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
This is named after Alicia Goyena, an educator and history teacher in Uruguay who was director of the women's section of the Instituto Batlle y Ordóñez in Montevideo. — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026 The Joyless Economy premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight section. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
The process began with detangling, drying, and sectioning each model’s hair before additional wefts from True Hair Company were installed to enhance length and fullness. — Corein Carter, Forbes.com, 23 Feb. 2026 How to do miracle knots Start by sectioning out clean, even parts and braiding them into single plaits. — Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 12 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for section
Recent Examples of Synonyms for section
Noun
  • Hiroto Sakata, a civil servant from Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, visited Tokyo's Asakusa district on a day trip and purchased tickets for two people, which cost 2,000 yen total, and skipped the line.
    — Masayuki Oi Japan News, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
  • But the state’s Republican attorneys said the primary elections took place under the new 2025 map, and that argues for keeping those districts in place for the general election in November.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • If the leak becomes more pronounced, repair costs can vary significantly depending on which portion of the oil pan is involved.
    — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • When someone makes a charitable payment and receives goods or services in return, the deductible portion is generally limited to the amount exceeding the value of the benefit received.
    — Jayson Weingarten, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Guidry is a frequent guest instructor, watching bullpens, parting his wisdom, and answering any questions the pinstripers’ new generation of pitchers may have.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Her hair is styled simply—straight, shiny, and side-parted, left down to flow freely.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • It was created by the California Legislature in 1968 after the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles, ostensibly to curb redlining by banks, home sellers and insurers in minority neighborhoods.
    — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
  • In our majority-Black neighborhood, a white mother with mixed-race kids stood out.
    — Jenisha Watts, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The bank said the coffee category is one of the most rapidly growing segments in the restaurant industry.
    — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
  • But watching the segment, Campanile wondered what the larger purpose of the interview was.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The system could therefore separate where a biological signal is detected from where treatment is delivered.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The danger begins before mentorship has separated itself from help.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The Libra Sun opposes Neptune across your career and home zones, making ambition look especially attractive while the personal cost remains hazy.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Sep. 2026
  • France's 10-year yield is now more than one percentage point higher than the payout on German 10-year bonds for the first time since the height of the euro zone sovereign debt crisis in 2012.
    — Jenni Reid,Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • That meant there was no single office, agency or organization capable of addressing residents’ concerns, but a patchwork of agencies where responsibility is fragmented.
    — Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The data got connected while the work at the store stayed fragmented.
    — Peter Kellis, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/section. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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