plural sects
1
: a religious group that is a smaller part of a larger group and whose members all share similar beliefs
Buddhist sects
a sect of Judaism
2
: a religious or political group that is connected to a larger group but that has beliefs that differ greatly from those of the main group
a fundamentalist Christian sect
radical Muslim sects
Cite this Entry
“Sect.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/sect. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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