sect

¹

[ sekt ]

noun

1. a body of persons adhering to a particular religious faith; a religious denomination.
2. a group regarded as heretical or as deviating from a generally accepted religious tradition.
3. (in the sociology of religion) a Christian denomination characterized by insistence on strict qualifications for membership, as distinguished from the more inclusive groups called churches.
4. any group, party, or faction united by a specific doctrine or under a doctrinal leader.

-sect

²

1. a combining form with the meaning “cut,” used in the formation of compound words bisect, dissect, exsect .

sect.

³

abbreviation for

1. section.

-sect

¹

combining_form

1. to cut or divide, esp into a specified number of parts

   trisect

sect

²

/ sɛkt /

noun

1. a subdivision of a larger religious group (esp the Christian Church as a whole) the members of which have to some extent diverged from the rest by developing deviating beliefs, practices, etc
2. derogatory.
   1. a schismatic religious body characterized by an attitude of exclusivity in contrast to the more inclusive religious groups called denominations or Churches
   2. a religious group regarded as extreme or heretical
3. a group of people with a common interest, doctrine, etc; faction

sect

1. A religious group, especially one that has separated from a larger group. Sect is often a term of disapproval.

Other Words From

• subsect noun
• under·sect noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sect¹

1300–50; Middle English secte < Latin secta something to follow, pathway, course of conduct, school of thought, probably noun derivative of sectārī to pursue, accompany, wait upon, frequentative of sequī to follow

Origin of sect²

From Latin sectus, past participle of secāre “to cut”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sect¹

from Latin sectus cut, from secāre to cut; see saw ¹

Origin of sect²

C14: from Latin secta faction, following, from the stem of sequī to follow

Related Words

• church
• creed
• cult
• denomination
• faction
• faith
• religion