sectary
Americannoun
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sectaries
plural
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a member of a particular sect, especially an adherent of a religious body regarded as heretical or schismatic.
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a Protestant of nonconformist denomination, especially a minor one.
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a person zealously devoted to a particular sect.
noun
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a member of a sect, esp a person who belongs to a religious sect that is regarded as heretical or schismatic
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a person excessively devoted to a particular sect
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a member of a Nonconformist denomination, esp one that is small
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sectary
1550–60; < Medieval Latin sectārius, equivalent to sect ( a ) sect + -ārius -ary
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The latter was commissioned by the home sectary and Sir Ken.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2025
An ex-senior adviser recalled being sent a document about a reform agenda and a permanent sectary ordering them to "just bin it immediately".
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2023
The sectary made hard efforts to glance behind, but the cords held too firmly, so I merely gained a glimpse of the side of his face.
From Prisoners of Chance The Story of What Befell Geoffrey Benteen, Borderman, through His Love for a Lady of France by Randall Parrish
In both, the imperial and official worship was political and indifferent to dogma without being hostile, provided no sectary refused to call the Emperor Son of Heaven or sacrifice to his image.
From Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3 by Sir Charles Eliot
Locke.—Is there no medium between the blind zeal of a sectary and a total indifference to all religion?
From Dialogues of the Dead by Henry Morley
Salon called and emailed the offices of sectaries Kerry and Carter, as well as the Departments of State and Defense, multiple times with requests for comment.
From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2016
These new California sectaries around Miller are no exception.
From Time Magazine Archive
Her father gets his graceful due: To truth a shield, to right a wall, To sectaries a whip and maul.
From Time Magazine Archive
Another disciple is said to have been Ortlieb of Strassburg, the teacher of the sectaries known by his name whose fate we have seen at Strassburg.
From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume II by Henry Charles Lea
We have scanty indications, however, in widely separated places, of the existence of sectaries probably Henrician, showing how, in spite of persecution, the antisacerdotal spirit continued to manifest itself.
From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume I by Henry Charles Lea
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