sectarian

American  

[sek-tair-ee-uhn] / sɛkˈtɛər i ən /

adjective

1. of or relating to sectaries or sects.

2. narrowly confined or devoted to a particular sect.

3. narrowly confined or limited in interest, purpose, scope, etc.

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noun

1. a member of a sect.

2. a bigoted or narrow-minded adherent of a sect.

sectarian British  

/ sɛkˈtɛərɪən /

adjective

1. of, belonging or relating to, or characteristic of sects or sectaries

2. adhering to a particular sect, faction, or doctrine

3. narrow-minded, esp as a result of rigid adherence to a particular sect

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noun

1. a member of a sect or faction, esp one who is bigoted in his adherence to its doctrines or in his intolerance towards other sects, etc

Other Word Forms

• sectarianism noun
• sectarianly adverb
• unsectarian adjective

Etymology

Origin of sectarian

First recorded in 1640–50; sectary + -an

Example Sentences

Syria is home to a diverse collection of religions, and as the new government sought to establish itself, sectarian unrest broke out.

From Los Angeles Times

At the start of his trial, the prosecution described the attack as "nakedly sectarian".

From BBC

Holding a pen like a gun grimly acknowledges Irish history, opposition to British rule as well as the sectarian Troubles between Protestants and Catholics.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The same neural signature -- reward up, control down under rivalry -- likely generalizes beyond sport to political and sectarian conflicts."

From Science Daily

Three decades of sectarian violence over British rule in Northern Ireland led to the deaths of 3,500 people until a peace deal was signed in 1998.

From Barron's

Related Words

• factional
• parochial
• partisan