sect

Pronunciation: /sɛkt/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a subdivision of a larger religious group
  2. noun a dissenting clique

Etymology

From Middle English secte, from Old French secte (“a sect in philosophy or religion”), from Late Latin secta (“a sect in philosophy or religion, a school, party, faction, class, guild, band, particularly a heretical doctrine or sect, etc.”), possibly, from Latin sequi (“to follow”). Alternatively linked to sectus (“cut off, divided”), past participle of secō.

In classic literature

Synonyms

religious sect, religious order

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
religion
Narrower (hyponyms)
shuha shinto, taoism, karaites, vaishnavism, order, hare krishna

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