faction

¹ American  

[fak-shuhn] / ˈfæk ʃən /

noun

1. a group or clique within a larger group, party, government, organization, or the like, typically having different opinions and interests than the larger group.

   a faction in favor of big business; rival factions within the company.

2. party strife and intrigue; dissension.

   an era of faction and treason.

   Synonyms:

   friction, split, schism, disagreement, discord

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faction ² American  

[fak-shuhn] / ˈfæk ʃən /

noun

Informal.

1. a form of writing or filmmaking that treats real people or events as if they were fictional or uses them as an integral part of a fictional account.

2. a novel, film, play, or other presentation in this form.

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faction ¹ British  

/ ˈfækʃən /

noun

1. a group of people forming a minority within a larger body, esp a dissentious group

2. strife or dissension within a group

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faction ² British  

/ ˈfækʃən /

noun

1. a television programme, film, or literary work comprising a dramatized presentation of actual events

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faction Cultural  

1. A group formed to seek some goal within a political party or a government. The term suggests quarrelsome dissent from the course pursued by the party or government majority: “His administration is moderate, but it contains a faction of extremists.”

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Other Word Forms

• factionalism
  noun
• factionalist
  noun
• factional
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of faction¹

First recorded in 1500–10; < Latin factiōn- (stem of factiō ) “a doing, company, division,” equivalent to fact(us) “done, made” ( see fact) + -iōn- -ion

Origin of faction²

1965–70; blend of fact and fiction

Explanation

Fractions are smaller parts of whole numbers: one-quarter, one-tenth, one-half, and a faction is a smaller portion of a larger group that breaks away from it. A faction might take a fraction of the people from a large group and start a new group. The Latin source of the word faction means to "do" or "make," though a faction can seem to be a taking away or un-doing. Politics is one area where faction gets a lot of use, because a political party often starts with a large group but has some members who disagree with a belief or direction. These members separate from the larger party and become a faction of their own, with many of the same beliefs as the original group but with a few new differences, too.

Example Sentences

But Shakespeare, who was as wary of rebellion as he was of tyranny, saw the flaws in every faction of society.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

A growing faction of affluent, older New Yorkers who have left the city are buying second properties back home to anchor themselves to elite medical specialists.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

At heart, his criticism of Messrs. Starmer, Streeting and Burnham is that they’re all following this faction or that rather than setting out a coherent program and then working to convince voters.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

It may have represented the end of Massie’s stint in Congress, but it also may represent the coalescing of a new faction in Republican politics.

From Slate • May 20, 2026

She knew that the Cornwall and Orkney faction had always been the menace to her husband's hopes—and Gawaine was now the head of the dan.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• bloc
• clan
• gang
• junta
• minority
• party
• sect
• side
• wing