faction

1 of 2

noun

fac·​tion ˈfak-shən 

1

: a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking : clique

The committee soon split into factions.

2

: party spirit especially when marked by dissension

faction, or the irreconcilable conflict of parties

—Ernest Barker

factional

ˈfak-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

factionalism

ˈfak-shnə-ˌli-zəm 

-shə-nə-ˌliz-

noun

factionally

ˈfak-shnəl-ē 

-shə-nᵊl-ē

adverb

-faction

2 of 2

noun combining form

: making : -fication

petrifaction

Synonyms

Noun

• bloc
• block
• body
• coalition
• party
• sect
• set
• side
• wing

Examples of faction in a Sentence

Noun

The committee soon split into factions.

several factions within the environmental movement have joined forces to save this wilderness area

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Scottsdale voters will decide which of two competing factions will take control of the city during the Nov. 5 general election, when a controversial sales tax initiative and a measure that officials say is needed to avoid cutting city services will also appear on the ballot. —Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2024

The whole faction was excited about that — especially Ja and Joe. —Shaheem Reid, Variety, 10 Sep. 2024

The Winter King is set in the fifth century, long before Britain was united, in a brutal land of warring factions and tribes, where lives were often fleeting. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2024

Controversy around the show Ever since the show landed online, a few factions on social media attacked the makers for alleged altering of history. —Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French faccion, borrowed from Latin factiōn-, factiō "act of making, social set, band, group, self-seeking political group," from facere "to make, bring about, place, classify" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at fact

Note: A doublet of faction is fashion entry 1, from the Gallo-Romance outcome of Latin factiō, which maintains only the meaning "act of making," sparsely attested outside of early Latin except in legal use.

Noun combining form

borrowed from Latin -factiōn-, -factiō (as in satisfactiōn-, satisfactiō satisfaction)

First Known Use

Noun

1509, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

faction

noun

fac·​tion ˈfak-shən 

: a group acting together within a larger body (as a government) : clique

factional

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

factionalism

-ˌiz-əm 

noun