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

Related Words

• factional
• parochial
• partisan