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

---

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.

---

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

---

faction ² British  

/ ˈfækʃən /

noun

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

---

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.”

---

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

See Examples For:

faction

There doesn’t seem to be much risk that Bronin’s election, which looks likely, will undermine the progressive faction in the House.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Instead, the pope appears to have viewed England as having abandoned his faction and aligned itself with his rival.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

Instead, let’s explore where each faction prevailed—and where they fell short.

From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026

Sabato said it remained to be seen which faction of the Democratic Party would prevail.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

That got a laugh all around, for it was the name of Yegey’s party or faction within the Commensality.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

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