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

: limited in character or scope : parochial

sectarianism

sek-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

noun

sectarian

2 of 2

noun

1

: an adherent of a sect

2

: a narrow or bigoted person

Synonyms

Adjective

• illiberal
• insular
• Lilliputian
• little
• narrow
• narrow-minded
• parochial
• petty
• picayune
• provincial
• small
• small-minded

Noun

• bigot
• dogmatist
• dogmatizer
• partisan
• partizan

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

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

Rana, the chief of police, could be seen as a stand-in for bureaucrats and administrators who critics accuse of emboldening extremists and stoking sectarian violence. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024

During and after the 30 years of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles, the Palestinians’ struggle for liberation was seen by its residents through the prism of their own conflict. —Eoin McSweeney, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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