section 1 of 2

Definition of sectionnext
1
as in district
an area (as of a city) set apart for some purpose or having some special feature several abandoned warehouses in the city's industrial section are being converted into art galleries and artists' lofts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in portion
one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled had trouble fitting the sections of the bookcase together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

section

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word section distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of section are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and segment. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

In what contexts can division take the place of section?

Although the words division and section have much in common, division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When is it sensible to use fragment instead of section?

The words fragment and section are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

When is member a more appropriate choice than section?

While in some cases nearly identical to section, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When can part be used instead of section?

The synonyms part and section are sometimes interchangeable, but part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When would piece be a good substitute for section?

The words piece and section can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When could portion be used to replace section?

While the synonyms portion and section are close in meaning, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When might segment be a better fit than section?

In some situations, the words segment and section are roughly equivalent. However, segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of section
Noun
Everyone’s overworked, every section is understaffed, every stress level is in the red, every institutional system seems on the verge of very its own implosion. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2026 On the same day, the supermarket’s hot food section passed its inspection. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
So, where does section 179 fit into all of this? Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026 Snowpiercer Survivors of Earth's second ice age live out their days on a luxury train that's sectioned by class. Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • The merger doesn’t take effect immediately Even though commissioners approved the plan Monday night, the three districts will not combine right away.
    Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The outspoken councilmember, whose district includes Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, Silver Lake and the San Fernando Valley, filed her paperwork on February 7.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The chefs then get three hours, starting now, to put their own spin on that dessert and create 60 portions to feed to Top Chef fans converging to celebrate the series’ 20 years on the air.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
  • That is borne out by the real-life strategy of the University of California endowment, run by Jagdeep Singh Bachher, who seven years ago shifted a significant portion of the fund’s assets from hedge funds, private equity and venture capital into low cost stock index funds.
    Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Leadership in Kansas City, Kansas’ largest public school district quietly parted ways with their head of special education who, for years, has drawn criticism from families and staff.
    Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Now, Keiko Aoki—widow of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki—is parting ways with her bi-level residence spanning the Fifth Avenue skyscraper’s 33rd and 34th floors.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • While en route, officers learned that a man had been shot and was lying in front of a home in the 9700 block of Holmes in the Linden Hills and Indian Heights neighborhood in south Kansas City.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Elkins shot a woman in a neighborhood south of downtown and a few blocks away at a home where the children were found, police said.
    Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The show began with a pre-recorded segment echoing Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho that featured Sam Elliott as an off-putting traffic cop.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Even short, regular walks – whether around your neighborhood or broken into 10-to-15-minute segments throughout the day – can improve cardiovascular health, boost mood and support digestion.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Elkins and his wife, identified by family members as Shaneiqua Elkins, were separating and had been due in court Monday, said Crystal Brown, a cousin of a woman shot in the attack.
    Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
  • That has pushed Ulta to search for new ways to separate itself from an increasingly crowded field of competitors, according to Jefferies.
    Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Comfort spreads as the fertile Moon blesses your home zone and sextiles therapeutic Chiron in your 6th House of Sustainability.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Flying southwest to northeast, the spacecraft steered toward a splashdown zone southwest of San Diego, where a US Navy recovery ship held position to await the crew’s homecoming.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The wrong pillow height or sleeping in a posture that strains the cervical spine can cause enough low-level discomfort to fragment sleep without fully waking you.
    Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Haulover Cut has already fragmented into an unrecognizable jumble of marsh and hammocks behind Kiawah Island.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.

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