faction

1 of 2

noun

fac·​tion ˈfak-shən How to pronounce faction (audio)
Synonyms of factionnext
1
: a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking : clique
The committee soon split into factions.
2
: party spirit especially when marked by dissension
Faction, or the irreconcilable conflict of parties …Ernest Barker
factional adjective
factionalism noun
factionally adverb

-faction

2 of 2

noun combining form

: making : -fication
petrifaction

Examples of faction in a Sentence

Noun The committee soon split into factions. several factions within the environmental movement have joined forces to save this wilderness area
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
But the truest understanding of slavery doesn’t serve any political faction. Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026 Tens of millions of dollars have already been set aside by the contending factions in anticipation of an all-out political war next fall. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026 The law classifies these crimes as heinous, prohibiting bail, amnesty or pardon, and hindering the progression of sentences for members of criminal factions. Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026 Live television crews captured the chaos, each faction functioning as another barbarian at the gate. Jenny Lumet, Vanity Fair, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for faction

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French faccion, borrowed from Latin factiōn-, factiō "act of making, social set, band, group, self-seeking political group," from facere "to make, bring about, place, classify" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at fact

Note: A doublet of faction is fashion entry 1, from the Gallo-Romance outcome of Latin factiō, which maintains only the meaning "act of making," sparsely attested outside of early Latin except in legal use.

Noun combining form

borrowed from Latin -factiōn-, -factiō (as in satisfactiōn-, satisfactiō satisfaction)

First Known Use

Noun

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of faction was in 1509

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Faction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faction. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

faction

noun
fac·​tion ˈfak-shən How to pronounce faction (audio)
: a group acting together within a larger body (as a government) : clique
factional
-shnəl How to pronounce faction (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
adjective
factionalism noun

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