sect

1 of 2

noun

Synonyms of sectnext
1
a
: a dissenting or schismatic religious body
especially : one regarded as extreme or heretical
b
: a religious denomination
2
archaic : sex sense 1
So is all her sectWilliam Shakespeare
3
a
: a group adhering to a distinctive doctrine or to a leader
b
: party
c

sect

2 of 2

abbreviation

Examples of sect in a Sentence

Noun one sect of medical researchers holds the minority view that the disease is not caused by that virus
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Sharia is the moral code for followers of Islam, but the interpretation and administration varies based on different sects, communities, countries and individuals, according to the Council for American-Islamic Relations. Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026 While the massive parking structures and upcoming 5,000-seat concert hall might grab your attention, the real soul of the project, at least for the food sect, is taking shape under a mass timber office building christened The Weave. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026 Esty Shapiro, a 19-year-old woman from a Hasidic Jewish sect in Brooklyn, pockets a secret wad of cash, picks up a passport, and hops on a plane to Berlin, all set to the tense soundtrack of a thriller. Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026 Was there some sect yet to be identified? Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sect

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English secte, from Anglo-French & Late Latin & Latin; Anglo-French, group, faction, from Late Latin secta organized ecclesiastical body, from Latin, course of action, way of life, probably from sectari to pursue, frequentative of sequi to follow — more at sue

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sect was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Sect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sect. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

sect

noun
ˈsekt
1
a
: a religious group having beliefs that differ greatly from those of the main body
b
: a religious body consisting of members having similar beliefs
2
a
: a group of people having the same beliefs or following the same leader
c

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