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Synonyms

sectional

American  
[sek-shuh-nl] / ˈsɛk ʃə nl /

adjective

  1. pertaining or limited to a particular section; local or regional.

    sectional politics.

  2. composed of several independent sections.

    a sectional sofa.

  3. of or relating to a section.

    a sectional view of the machine.

noun

  1. a sofa composed of several independent sections that can be arranged individually or in various combinations.

sectional British  
/ ˈsɛkʃənəl /

adjective

  1. composed of several sections

  2. of or relating to a section

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • multisectional adjective
  • nonsectional adjective
  • nonsectionally adverb
  • sectionally adverb
  • unsectional adjective
  • unsectionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of sectional

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10; section + -al 1

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.

My room was large, with a sectional sofa, two TVs and a balcony overlooking the pool with partial views of the Strip.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

Meanwhile, Northern states began gradual emancipation, making slavery a sectional institution dividing North from South.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025

Anyone can buy a secondhand L-shaped sectional on Facebook Marketplace, but snagging a curved couch involves more capital, effort and taste.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2024

The 17-year-old McIntosh finished almost 6 seconds ahead of Ledecky at a sectional meet in Orlando on Thursday, becoming the second-fastest female in the history of a grueling event that Ledecky has dominated.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

She picked them up, arranged them in sectional order, and put them on the sofa in a neat pile.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee

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.