adj · noun · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/sɛkˈtɛəɹi.ən/
General-American:/sɛkˈtɛɹi.ən/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛəɹiən
CMU ARPABET:S EH0 K T EH1 R IY0 AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of, relating to, or partial to a sect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
We were discussing solutions to the sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shias.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Dogmatic or partisan.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Parochial or narrow-minded.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Bigoted.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A member of a sect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A bigot.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective
Meaning 7
belonging to or characteristic of a sect- Sidney Hook
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a sectarian mind
the negations of sectarian ideology
sectarian squabbles in psychology
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: nonsectarian
8
adjective
Meaning 8
of or relating to or characteristic of a sect or sects
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
sectarian differences
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
a member of a sect
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
most sectarians are intolerant of the views of any other sect
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sectary, sectarist
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: bigot
History
Etymology
From Medieval Latin sectarius + -an. Its corresponding etymology per the first sense is sect + -arian.
Across languages
Translations
42 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
աղանդավորական
(aġandavorakan)
— of, or relating to a sect
Bulgarian:
сектантски
(sektantski)
— of, or relating to a sect
Catalan:
sectari
— of, or relating to a sect
Danish:
sekterisk
— of, or relating to a sect
Dutch:
sektarisch
— of, or relating to a sect
German:
sektiererisch
— of, or relating to a sect
German:
Sekten-
— of, or relating to a sect
Norwegian Bokmål:
sekterisk
— of, or relating to a sect
Norwegian Nynorsk:
sekterisk
— of, or relating to a sect
Russian:
секта́нтский
(sektántskij)
— of, or relating to a sect
Spanish:
sectario
— of, or relating to a sect
Turkish:
mezhepsel
— of, or relating to a sect
Czech:
sektářský
— dogmatic or partisan
German:
parteiisch
— dogmatic or partisan
German:
dogmatisch
— dogmatic or partisan
Russian:
секта́нтский
(sektántskij)
— dogmatic or partisan
Spanish:
sectario
— dogmatic or partisan
Turkish:
sekter
— dogmatic or partisan
Catalan:
sectari
— parochial or narrow-minded
German:
engstirnig
— parochial or narrow-minded
German:
beschränkt
— parochial or narrow-minded
German:
eng
— parochial or narrow-minded
German:
provinziell
— parochial or narrow-minded
Russian:
секта́нтский
(sektántskij)
— parochial or narrow-minded
Spanish:
sectario
— parochial or narrow-minded
Turkish:
sekter
— parochial or narrow-minded
Turkish:
bağnaz
— parochial or narrow-minded
German:
voreingenommen
— bigoted
German:
eifernd
— bigoted
German:
bigott
— bigoted
German:
stur
— bigoted
German:
engstirnig
— bigoted
Russian:
секта́нтский
(sektántskij)
— bigoted
Spanish:
sectario
— bigoted
Turkish:
sekter
— bigoted
Armenian:
աղանդավոր
(aġandavor)
— member of a sect
Bulgarian:
сектант
(sektant)
— member of a sect
German:
Sektenmitglied
— member of a sect
German:
Angehöriger einer Sekte
— member of a sect
German:
Sektenangehöriger
— member of a sect
Russian:
секта́нт
(sektánt)
— member of a sect
Russian:
секта́нтка
(sektántka)
— member of a sect
