faction

noun

fac·tion | \ ˈfak-shən

Definition of faction

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

-faction

noun combining form

Definition of -faction (Entry 2 of 2)

: making : -fication petrifaction

Other Words from faction Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about faction

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Other Words from faction

Noun

factional \ ˈfak-shnəl

, -shə-nᵊl \ adjective

factionalism \ ˈfak-shnə-ˌli-zəm

, -shə-nə-ˌliz- \ noun

factionally \ ˈfak-shnəl-ē

, -shə-nᵊl-ē \ adverb

Synonyms for faction

Synonyms: Noun

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 But then a crack in the ice appears with the election of Yitzhak Rabin, who represents the left-leaning Labor Party (as opposed to Shamir, who represented the right-wing Likud faction), in June 1992. — Daphne Merkin, The New Republic, "The Human Factor Tallies the What Ifs of Israel-Palestine Peace Talks," 8 Feb. 2021 The Trump faction still plans to back primary challengers to Cheney and nine other House Republicans who voted for impeachment. — David Jackson, USA TODAY, "Donald Trump's backers failed to take down Liz Cheney, but the Republican 'civil war' isn't near over," 4 Feb. 2021 Several downtown hotels, including one which had become a favorite hangout of the militant Proud Boy faction, chose to avoid trouble by closing last week. — The Associated Press, NOLA.com, "DC locks down a week before Biden's inauguration as FBI warns of armed protests," 14 Jan. 2021 Several downtown hotels, including one which had become a favorite hangout of the militant Proud Boy faction, chose to avoid trouble by closing last week. — Ashraf Khalil, BostonGlobe.com, "Expecting trouble, D.C. locks down a week before inauguration," 14 Jan. 2021 Several downtown hotels, including one which had become a favorite hangout of the militant Proud Boy faction, chose to avoid trouble by closing last week. — Star Tribune, "National Guard troops flooding in as Washington locks down," 14 Jan. 2021 Netanyahu and defense minister Gantz, head of the centrist Blue and White faction, established a unity government in May after three inconclusive elections held since April 2019. — NBC News, "Israel set for snap election as budget deadline nears," 22 Dec. 2020 But the pro-lottery faction garnered only four supporters, out of a 13-member board, and so the motion failed. — Hannah Natanson, Washington Post, "Fairfax school board switches to ‘holistic review’ admissions system for Thomas Jefferson High School," 18 Dec. 2020 The Conservatives are split over Europe and while some will welcome any deal, the trickiest faction for Johnson will be the old guard of euroskeptic Tories. — Joe Mayes, Bloomberg.com, "With Tories at His Back, Boris Johnson Can’t Cave in on Brexit," 12 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'faction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for faction

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)

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