faction

¹

[fak-shuhn]

noun

1. a group or clique within a larger group, party, government, organization, or the like, typically having different opinions and interests than the larger group.

   a faction in favor of big business; rival factions within the company.

2. party strife and intrigue; dissension.

   an era of faction and treason.

   Synonyms: friction, split, schism, disagreement, discord

faction

²

[fak-shuhn]

noun

Informal.

1. a form of writing or filmmaking that treats real people or events as if they were fictional or uses them as an integral part of a fictional account.

2. a novel, film, play, or other presentation in this form.

faction

¹

/ ˈfækʃən /

noun

1. a group of people forming a minority within a larger body, esp a dissentious group

2. strife or dissension within a group

faction

²

/ ˈfækʃən /

noun

1. a television programme, film, or literary work comprising a dramatized presentation of actual events

faction

1. A group formed to seek some goal within a political party or a government. The term suggests quarrelsome dissent from the course pursued by the party or government majority: “His administration is moderate, but it contains a faction of extremists.”

Other Word Forms

• factionalist noun
• factionalism noun
• factional adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of faction¹

First recorded in 1500–10; < Latin factiōn- (stem of factiō ) “a doing, company, division,” equivalent to fact(us) “done, made” ( fact ) + -iōn- -ion

Origin of faction²

1965–70; blend of fact and fiction

Word History and Origins

Origin of faction¹

C16: from Latin factiō a making, from facere to make, do

Origin of faction²

C20: a blend of _fact and _fiction

Example Sentences

The Southern Democrats are a faction that has been fully absorbed by the Republicans…

From Salon

The simple reality, as unsatisfying as this may be to nearly all factions of the party, is that they have to figure out how to win elections on maps designed by their opponents.

From Salon

Over the years, his show became more and more explicitly partisan as Republicans embraced the Christian right as their most important organizing faction.

From Salon

On Monday night, a Hamas statement announced that the armed group and other Palestinian factions had approved a ceasefire proposal presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to their delegations in Cairo the previous day.

From BBC

"There are so many factions, so many people who need to be kept separate, that it is making life very difficult for them."

From BBC

Related Words

• bloc 
• clan 
• gang 
• junta 
• minority 
• party 
• sect 
• side 
• wing