sectsect /sekt/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
Word Origin
Word OriginWORD ORIGINsect
ExamplesOrigin:
1300-1400 Old French secte ‘group, sect’, from Latin secta ‘way of life, type of people’, from sequi ‘to follow’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- a fundamentalist sect
- A monk named Kashyapa is regarded as the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism.
- Islam has two main sects: the Sunnis and the Shias.
- She is a member of a religious sect that was formed from various aspects of Asian religions.
- All the others were from the sect hierarchy's lesser rank of Disciples.
- He believes Dinah has either been murdered or is the prisoner of a religious sect.
- Many Kharijite sects advocated anarchy as a solution; getting rid of the leader came to be an acceptable tactic.
- My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right...
- One classificatory device that has been used frequently draws distinctions between church, denomination, and sect and cult.
- One might almost say that each of the different sects corresponds to a different social group or class.
- Shinto sanctuaries came under the control of this new sect, known also as Dualist Shintoism.
- This well-known story from Marco Polo's account dates from two hundred years after the sect had been crushed.
THESAURUSreligious group► church
Collocations one of the different groups within the Christian religion – used especially in names: · The Roman Catholic church is expanding.· members of the Church of England
► denomination a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups who belong to the same religion: · Our staff come from churches of all denominations.· Several denominations have developed among Jews.
► sect a religious group that has separated from a larger group: · He is a leader in the powerful Ansar Sunni Muslim sect.
► cult an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion: · Members of the cult all committed suicide on the same day.
► religion [countable, uncountable] a set of beliefs about a god, and the ceremonies and customs that go with these beliefs. Also used when talking about all religions in general: · Judaism is one of the great religions of the world.· African tribal religions· a lecture on the role of religion in society
► faith [countable, uncountable] a religion, especially one of the large important world religions. Also used when talking about religious belief in general: · The school welcomes children of all faiths.· His religious faith was always deeply important to him.
► belief [countable, uncountable] the act of believing in a god or gods, or the ideas that someone believes because of their religion: · We all have the right to freedom of belief.· They were persecuted because of their religious beliefs.
► denomination [countable] a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups who belong to the same religion: · The church is the largest Christian denomination in the United States.
► sect [countable] a group of people who have their own set of religious beliefs and customs, especially a group that has separated from a larger group: · He became a member of a Buddhist sect.· There are two sects in Islam - the Sunni and the Shi'a.· an obscure religious sect
► the church [singular, uncountable] the Christian religion in general: · How great is the influence of the church in present-day society?· The church has a lot to say about this.
► the Catholic/Protestant etc church (also Church) [countable] one of the separate groups within the Christian religion: · the Methodist Church
► cult [countable] an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion – often used to show disapproval: · The suicides have been linked to a strange religious cult.· the traditional pagan cults of Ancient Rome
► creed [countable, uncountable] formal the religion that you belong to, and the set of beliefs that you accept in order to belong to it – often used in phrases when saying that your religion should not affect how you are treated: · There must be no discrimination because of race, colour, or creed.· You will be rewarded whatever your race or creed.
► faith community [countable] formal a group of people who share the same religious beliefs – used especially in official contexts: · the benefits of living within a supportive faith community
Longman Language Activatora religious group► sect a religious group that is part of a larger religious group, but has slightly different beliefs and ceremonies: · Islam has two main sects: the Sunnis and the Shias.· A monk named Kashyapa is regarded as the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism.· She is a member of a religious sect that was formed from various aspects of Asian religions. · a fundamentalist sect
► church a smaller group within the Christian religion: · The evangelical churches are particularly strong in the big cities.· He took us to a Pentecostal meeting in one of the city's many black churches.the Catholic/Methodist/Mormon etc Church: · Even though I belong to the Catholic Church, I don't agree with everything it says.the Church of England/Scotland: · The Church of England finally agreed to accept the ordination of women priests.
► cult an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion, and that many people think is strange and possibly harmful to the people who get involved in it: · Dozens of religious cults have appeared in the US, most making a fortune for their leaders.· Members of the cult are not allowed to marry or own property without permission.· A spokesman denied the group is a cult and said members could leave whenever they wanted.
WORD SETS► Religionacolyte, nounafterlife, nounagnostic, nounangel, nounanimism, nounanoint, verbapostasy, nounapostate, nounarchangel, nounbelieve, verbbeliever, nounbell-ringer, nounbless, verbblessed, adjectiveblessing, nouncelebrant, nounChristian Science, nouncircumcise, verbcircumcision, nouncommunion, nounconfession, nounconvent, nounconversion, nounconvert, nouncoreligionist, nouncowl, nouncredo, nouncreed, nouncult, noundaemon, nounDecalogue, noundefrock, verbdeism, noundenomination, noundenominational, adjectivedevotee, noundevotion, noundevotional, adjectivedevout, adjectivedivine, adjectivedivinity, noundruid, nounfaith, nounfast day, nounfeast, nounfervour, nounfiesta, nounfollow, verbfrankincense, noungentile, noungod, noungoddess, noungrace, nounhabit, nounhair shirt, nounhallelujah, interjectionhallowed, adjectivehalo, nounheathen, adjectiveheathen, nounheaven, nounheavenly, adjectivehell, nounheresy, nounheretic, nounhermit, nounhermitage, nounheterodox, adjectivehigh priest, nounidol, nounidolatry, nounincarnation, nounincense, nouninfidel, nounintercession, nouninvocation, nouninvoke, verbirreligious, adjective-ism, suffixlayman, nounlaywoman, nounlibation, nounliturgical, adjectiveliturgy, nounmartyr, nounmartyr, verbmeditate, verbmeditation, nounmission, nounmonastery, nounmonastic, adjectivemonk, nounmonotheism, nounMoonie, nounMormon, nounMosaic, adjectivemystery play, nounmystic, nounmystical, adjectivemysticism, nounneophyte, nounnovice, nounnovitiate, nounnuminous, adjectivenun, nounnunnery, nounoblation, nounobservance, nounoffering, nounOlympian, adjectiveordain, verborder, nounorthodox, adjectiveotherworldly, adjectivepagan, adjectivepagan, nounpantheism, nounpantheon, nounParsee, nounpilgrim, nounpilgrimage, nounpious, adjectivepluralism, nounpolytheism, nounpractise, verbpray, verbprayer, nounprayer wheel, nounpreach, verbpreacher, nounpriest, nounpriestess, nounpriesthood, nounpriestly, adjectiveprophet, nounprophetess, nounpurify, verbRasta, nounRastafarian, nounRastaman, nounRE, nounrecant, verbreincarnation, nounreligious, adjectivereligiously, adverbreliquary, nounrepent, verbretreat, nounrevelation, nounrevivalism, nounrite, nounritual, nounsacred, adjectivesacrifice, nounsacrifice, verbsacrificial, adjectivesanctify, verbsanctity, nounsanctuary, nounsanctum, nounsatanism, nounscripture, nounsect, nounsectarian, adjectiveservice, nounshaman, nounShinto, nounshrine, nounsin, nounsin, verbsinful, adjectivesinner, nounsoul, nounspirit, nounspiritual, adjectivespiritualism, nounspirituality, nounSr, sun god, nounsuppliant, nounsupplicant, nounsupplication, nounSupreme Being, nounTao, nounTaoism, nountemple, nountenet, nounthanksgiving, nountheism, nountheo-, prefixtheocracy, nountheologian, nountheological college, nountheology, nountonsure, nountranscendental, adjectivetranscendental meditation, nountransmigration, noununbelief, noununbeliever, nounungodly, adjectiveunholy, adjectiveunorthodox, adjectivevisionary, nounvoodoo, nounvotary, nounworship, verbworship, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► different
a group of people with their own particular set of beliefs and practices, especially within or separated from a larger religious group → sectional· Gainsborough had 3 banks, several schools, and places of worship for Anglicans, Catholics and 6 different dissenting sects.· One might almost say that each of the different sects corresponds to a different social group or class.· Their religious life is tolerant, pluralist, divided into different sects or denominations.
► religious· Paramat stood by the doorway with the attitude of a tourist at the shrine of an exotic religious sect.· Behind the gate, however, is a religious sect that former members say indulges in polygamy and other questionable practices.· He believes Dinah has either been murdered or is the prisoner of a religious sect.· As these opportunities appeared, so at the same time the lines of religious party and sect hardened.· It must be stressed that the Zealots were not a religious sect or denomination.