sect
[ sekt ]
/ sɛkt /
noun
a body of persons adhering to a particular religious faith; a religious denomination.
a group regarded as heretical or as deviating from a generally accepted religious tradition.
(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.
any group, party, or faction united by a specific doctrine or under a doctrinal leader.
Origin of sect
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
OTHER WORDS FROM sect
sub·sect, noun un·der·sect, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sect
sects sexWords nearby sect
Definition for sect (2 of 3)
-sect
a combining form with the meaning “cut,” used in the formation of compound words bisect, dissect, exsect.
Origin of -sect
< Latin
sectus, past participle of
secāre “to cut”
Definition for sect (3 of 3)
Example sentences from the Web for sect
British Dictionary definitions for sect (1 of 2)
sect
/ (sɛkt) /
noun
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
often derogatory
- a schismatic religious body characterized by an attitude of exclusivity in contrast to the more inclusive religious groups called denominations or Churches
- a religious group regarded as extreme or heretical
a group of people with a common interest, doctrine, etc; faction
Word Origin for sect
C14: from Latin
secta faction, following, from the stem of
sequī to follow
British Dictionary definitions for sect (2 of 2)
-sect
combining form
to cut or divide, esp into a specified number of parts
trisect
Word Origin for -sect
from Latin
sectus cut, from
secāre to cut; see
saw
1
Cultural definitions for sect
sect
A religious group, especially one that has separated from a larger group. Sect is often a term of disapproval.