adjective
-
of, belonging or relating to, or characteristic of sects or sectaries
-
adhering to a particular sect, faction, or doctrine
-
narrow-minded, esp as a result of rigid adherence to a particular sect
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sectarian
Explanation
Sectarian is a word to describe something having to do with smaller groups or sects. Sectarian violence, for example, would describe violence that has erupted between conflicting groups or sects. Sectarian, as a noun, is a member of a group with a particular set of interests. If you're a religious sectarian, you are loyal to a particular religious sect or group. Unfortunately, there are not many places in the world where sectarian strife and conflict do not exist.
Vocabulary lists containing sectarian
Power Suffix: -arian
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Ideas Live On" by Benazir Bhutto (2007)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
President Obama's U.N. Address
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The French president is also eager for Sharaa to maintain his pledge to protect Syria's minorities, after sectarian bloodshed in its Alawite and Druze heartlands last year.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
The French president is eager for Sharaa to maintain his pledge to protect minorities, after sectarian bloodshed in Syria's Alawite and Druze heartlands last year.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
"If subsequent courts say: 'Yes they all have to read as only relating to the sectarian conflict' then that would be a significant limitation. That can't be right."
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
Khan denies his group is spreading sectarian politics, pointing out that the ICA is fielding a Jewish candidate and a non-Muslim bare-knuckle fighter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
I ask my fellow-workers at the factory; they know nothing and think I am talking of some crazy Yomesh sectarian.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
