faction

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A smaller group inside a larger party, organization, or country whose members share aims that differ from the main group.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with within or inside, and frequently suggests disagreement or rivalry.

   Patterns

   • faction within something
   • rival factions
   • split into factions

   A radical faction within the party demanded change.

   Rival factions competed for control of the council.

   The movement split into factions after the vote.

2. 2nounusually singularformalrare

   Internal disagreement or conflict within a group, seen as a harmful dividedness.

   Grammar: Formal and less common; usually singular, often in the phrase faction and strife.

   Patterns

   • faction and strife
   • end faction

   The leader warned against faction and strife.

   Constant faction weakened the coalition.

Word forms

Common combinations

rival factions

Rival factions released competing statements.

faction within

There is a growing faction within the union.

split into factions

The committee split into factions over funding.

small faction

Only a small faction opposed the treaty.

Synonyms and how they differ

splinter group

A group that breaks away from a larger one; faction may remain inside the larger body.

caucus

Usually an organized bloc within a political party, especially with meetings and voting discipline.

camp

Informal for a side in a dispute; faction is more organized and enduring.

sect

Often a religious subgroup with distinct doctrines; faction is broader and usually political.

Opposites

Word family

factional adjective

Caused by or relating to rival groups within an organization.

factionalism noun

The damaging presence of rival internal groups.

Commonly confused: faction or fiction? faction or fraction?

Practice

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