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

• factional adjective
• factionalism noun
• factionalist noun

Etymology

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 faction¹

1965–70; blend of fact and fiction

Example Sentences

If Rodríguez fails to keep order in the country, U.S. officials and analysts fear Venezuela’s many armed groups, criminal networks and rival political factions could engage in a struggle for power.

From The Wall Street Journal

Saudi Arabia had called for talks between the Yemeni factions in Riyadh at the request of Yemen's government, with both camps agreeing to take part.

From Barron's

Guerrilla Arakan Army fighters -- one of the many factions challenging the junta's rule -- control swathes of jungle across the border with Myanmar.

From Barron's

Rebel factions have pledged to block the vote from the enclaves they control, and the junta has admitted the vote cannot be held nationwide, but is waging offensives in a bid to claw back ground.

From Barron's

Western security officials fear the Yemeni faction could start staging attacks out of East Africa, effectively cornering shipping from both coastlines.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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