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
1
: an adherent of a sect
2
: a narrow or bigoted person
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
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Radical, often foreign jihadists still make up a significant portion of the armed forces, ISIS is resurgent, former Assad loyalists remain dissatisfied, the economy is nonexistent from 13 years of warfare, and countless sectarian divisions threaten to rupture at any moment.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2025
Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2015
Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.
—Joshua Alston, Variety, 12 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sectarian
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Adjective
Iran, for its part, also deployed some military advisers, including Soleimani, but Tehran's efforts were largely carried out by allied militias from across the region, many of whom have also been accused of inflaming sectarian tensions.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Radical, often foreign jihadists still make up a significant portion of the armed forces, ISIS is resurgent, former Assad loyalists remain dissatisfied, the economy is nonexistent from 13 years of warfare, and countless sectarian divisions threaten to rupture at any moment.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2025
Noun
People want to get rid of religious parties, people want to put sectarians behind to build an Iraq for all Iraqis.
—Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2015
Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.
—Joshua Alston, Variety, 12 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sectarian
Cite this Entry
“Sectarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sectarian. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
sectarian
2 of 2 noun1
: a member of a sect
2
: a person who won't consider the ideas or opinions of others
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