faction

¹

[ fak-shuhn ]

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

[ fak-shuhn ]

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

/ ˈfækʃən /

noun

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

faction

²

/ 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

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.”

Derived Forms

• ˈfactionalist, noun
• ˈfactionalˌism, noun
• ˈfactional, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of faction¹

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

Origin of faction²

1965–70; blend of fact and fiction

Word History and Origins

Origin of faction¹

C20: a blend of fact and fiction

Origin of faction²

C16: from Latin factiō a making, from facere to make, do

Example Sentences

Even more recently, researchers have documented QAnon accounts pushing false claims that members of antifa, a loosely organized, far-left political faction, had started wildfires in the Pacific Northwest.

From Washington Post

That left the selection of prime minister in the hands of the small coterie of senior power brokers who control the party’s largest factions.

From Fortune

In 1998, he bolted from the faction of Keizo Obuchi, a party bigwig who later became prime minister, to support a rival Suga believed more capable.

From Fortune

Ishiba, thought by many to be the front-runner, is popular among the party’s rank and file, though less so among senior faction leaders.

From Fortune

A total of five states24 will hold their down-ballot primaries or runoffs today, in which the fight between the radical wings and more moderate factions will continue for both parties.

From FiveThirtyEight

He was part of an extreme, racialized white faction in the Louisiana state house that was clearly dead-set against honoring King.

From The Daily Beast

But it is not clear if the latest action is at the hands of that faction or another.

From The Daily Beast

Jobbik, whose paramilitary militia faction was banned in 2009, won 20 percent of the national vote in April.

From The Daily Beast

This faction of the opposition is itself fractured into dozens of splinter groups.

From The Daily Beast

Predictably, the pro-slavery faction also used the threat of hell to their favor.

From The Daily Beast

One of these persons tried to enlist Prior in Portland's faction, but with very little success.

From Project Gutenberg

Ignorance and party faction, and a variety of such other unworthy components, entered largely into them.

From Project Gutenberg

But even in those words the malevolence of faction sought and found matter for a quarrel.

From Project Gutenberg

The fires of the Puritan faction had smouldered out; those of the Jacobite frenzy had hardly had time to rekindle.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of the popular faction fled to France; others took refuge among the Ardennes; some were executed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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