sectarian

1 of 3

adjective

sec·​tar·​i·​an sek-ˈter-ē-ən 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect or sectarian

2

: limited in character or scope : parochial

sectarianism

sek-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

noun

sectarian

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: an adherent of a sect

2

: a narrow or bigoted person

sectarianism

3 of 3

noun (2)

sec·​tar·​i·​an·​ism -əˌnizəm 

plural -s

: sectarian spirit or beliefs : exclusive or narrow-minded attachment to a sect, denomination, party, or school

religious sectarianism

socialist sectarianism

Synonyms of sectarian

Adjective

• parochial
• petty
• small
• narrow

Noun (1)

• partisan

Examples of sectarian in a Sentence

Adjective

The country was split along sectarian lines.

there are people on both the left and the right who have staked out unyielding sectarian positions in this debate

Noun (1)

charged that the work of Congress has been stymied by sectarians who are indifferent to reason and intolerant of compromise

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Hundreds of civilians — mostly Druze — were killed in sectarian revenge attacks. — Natalie Melzer, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

He was arrested in Lebanon in July 2025 and sentenced to three months in prison for incitement to religious and sectarian conflict. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Noun

The Iraqi prime minister at the time, Nuri al-Maliki, was a Shiite sectarian with close ties to Iran, and many of his fellow Shia thought he could be relied on to listen to Iran’s wishes and find a way to avoid clashing with an Iranian proxy militia. — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025

Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians. — Joshua Alston, Variety, 12 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

circa 1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sectarian

• arion
• carrion
• clarion
• hereon
• marian
• parian
• agrarian
• aquarian
• barbarian
• bavarian
• bulgarian
• cimmerian

Kids Definition

sectarian

1 of 2 adjective

sec·​tar·​i·​an sek-ˈter-ē-ən 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect or sectarian

2

: not willing to consider other points of view

a sectarian mind

sectarianism

-ē-ə-ˌniz-əm 

noun

sectarian

2 of 2 noun

1

: a member of a sect

2

: a person who won't consider the ideas or opinions of others