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sect
This term carries a strong connotation of separation and exclusivity. While it can describe any small group with a shared ideology, it is most frequently used in religious contexts to describe a splinter group that has broken away from an established church. Depending on the speaker's perspective, the word can be neutral or pejorative, often implying a level of rigidity or fringe beliefs. In political or social contexts, it describes a faction that adheres to a strict, specific doctrine. It differs from a general group or club by the intensity of the shared belief system and the perceived distance from the mainstream majority.
Meanings
A small group of people with somewhat different religious beliefs from those of a larger group to which they belong.
"The small sect practiced a form of worship that was unknown to the rest of the community."
A group of people united by a shared set of beliefs or a particular ideology, often viewed as separate from the mainstream.
"The political sect remained isolated from the rest of the party's leadership."