English · Word Candidate

sect

/sɛkt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: sects

Sense 1

Meaning · English

An offshoot of a larger religion or denomination.

Noun

Examples

a religious sect

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A group following a specific ideal or a leader.

Noun

Examples

Zen Center welcomes visitors, guests, and prospective students, but it does not engage in systematic institutional or network recruiting of new members, unlike the Christian sect and Erhard Seminars Training.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

An ancient astrological concept, a form of polarity by which heavenly bodies were designated as either diurnal or nocturnal.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “sect” mean?

An offshoot of a larger religion or denomination.

Is “sect” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.