'Sect' definitions:
Definition of 'sect'
(from WordNet)
noun
A subdivision of a larger religious group [syn: sect, religious sect, religious order]
noun
A dissenting clique [syn: faction, sect]
Definition of 'Sect'
From: GCIDE
- Sect \Sect\ (s[e^]kt), n. [L. secare, sectum, to cut.] A cutting; a scion. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Sect'
From: GCIDE
- Sect \Sect\ (s[e^]kt), n. [F. secte, L. secta, fr. sequi to follow; often confused with L. secare, sectum, to cut. See Sue to follow, and cf. Sept, Suit, n.] Those following a particular leader or authority, or attached to a certain opinion; a company or set having a common belief or allegiance distinct from others; in religion, the believers in a particular creed, or upholders of a particular practice; especially, in modern times, a party dissenting from an established church; a denomination; in philosophy, the disciples of a particular master; a school; in society and the state, an order, rank, class, or party. [1913 Webster]
- He beareth the sign of poverty, And in that sect our Savior saved all mankind. --Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster]
- As of the sect of which that he was born, He kept his lay, to which that he was sworn. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- The cursed sect of that detestable and false prophet Mohammed. --Fabyan. [1913 Webster]
- As concerning this sect [Christians], we know that everywhere it is spoken against. --Acts xxviii. 22. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'sect'
From: Easton
- Sect (Gr. hairesis, usually rendered "heresy", Acts 24:14; 1 Chr. 11:19; Gal. 5:20, etc.), meaning properly "a choice," then "a chosen manner of life," and then "a religious party," as the "sect" of the Sadducees (Acts 5:17), of the Pharisees (15:5), the Nazarenes, i.e., Christians (24:5). It afterwards came to be used in a bad sense, of those holding pernicious error, divergent forms of belief (2 Pet. 2:1; Gal. 5:20).
Synonyms of 'sect'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adherents,
- affiliation,
- anthroposophy,
- Babi,
- Babism,
- Bahaism,
- body,
- Brahmanism,
- Brahmoism,
- branch,
- breakaway group,
- Buddhism,
- cabal,
- camp,
- caucus,
- Chen Yen Buddhism,
- Christianity,
- church,
- class,
- clique,
- communion,
- community,
- confession,
- connection,
- creed,
- cult,
- denomination,
- disciples,
- division,
- ethnic group,
- faction,
- faith,
- fellowship,
- followers,
- group,
- interest,
- interest group,
- ism,
- minority group,
- offshoot,
- order,
- organization,
- party,
- persuasion,
- political party,
- pressure group,
- religious order,
- schism,
- school,
- school of thought,
- sectarism,
- segment,
- set,
- side,
- silent majority,
- society,
- splinter,
- splinter group,
- variety,
- version,
- vocal minority,
- wing