sect
[noun]
Synonyms: group, camp, denomination, division, faction, party, schism

---

English Thesaurus: church, denomination, sect, cult, religion, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

sect /sekt/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: secte 'group, sect', from Latin secta 'way of life, type of people', from sequi 'to follow']
a group of people with their own particular set of beliefs and practices, especially within or separated from a larger religious group ⇒ sectional

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

sect
noun
ADJ. religious | evangelical, fundamentalist | Buddhist, Christian, etc.
VERB + SECT belong to | join
SECT + NOUN member
PHRASES a leader/member of a sect

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

church one of the different groups within the Christian religion – used especially in names:
The Roman Catholic church is expanding.
members of the Church of England
denomination a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups who belong to the same religion:
Our staff come from churches of all denominations.
Several denominations have developed among Jews.
sect a religious group that has separated from a larger group:
He is a leader in the powerful Ansar Sunni Muslim sect.
cult an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion:
Members of the cult all committed suicide on the same day.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

religion [uncountable and countable] a set of beliefs about a god, and the ceremonies and customs that go with these beliefs. Also used when talking about all religions in general:
Judaism is one of the great religions of the world.
African tribal religions
a lecture on the role of religion in society
faith [uncountable and countable] a religion, especially one of the large important world religions. Also used when talking about religious belief in general:
The school welcomes children of all faiths.
His religious faith was always deeply important to him.
belief [uncountable and countable] the act of believing in a god or gods, or the ideas that someone believes because of their religion:
We all have the right to freedom of belief.
They were persecuted because of their religious beliefs.
denomination [countable] a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups who belong to the same religion:
The church is the largest Christian denomination in the United States.
sect [countable] a group of people who have their own set of religious beliefs and customs, especially a group that has separated from a larger group:
He became a member of a Buddhist sect.
There are two sects in Islam - the Sunni and the Shi'a.
an obscure religious sect
the church [singular, uncountable] the Christian religion in general:
How great is the influence of the church in present-day society?
The church has a lot to say about this.
the Catholic/Protestant etc church (also Church) [countable] one of the separate groups within the Christian religion:
the Methodist Church
cult [countable] an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion – often used to show disapproval:
The suicides have been linked to a strange religious cult.
the traditional pagan cults of Ancient Rome
creed [uncountable and countable] formal the religion that you belong to, and the set of beliefs that you accept in order to belong to it – often used in phrases when saying that your religion should not affect how you are treated:
There must be no discrimination because of race, colour, or creed.
You will be rewarded whatever your race or creed.
faith community [countable] formal a group of people who share the same religious beliefs – used especially in official contexts:
the benefits of living within a supportive faith community

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲