faction
FAK-shuhn
Faction (noun) means a smaller group within a larger organisation that holds a distinct set of views or interests, often at odds with the rest. Example: “A breakaway faction of the party opposed the new policy.”
noun
1
A smaller group within a larger organisation that holds a distinct set of views or interests, often at odds with the rest.
"A breakaway faction of the party opposed the new policy."
"Rival factions within the company were fighting over the merger."
"One faction in the club wanted a new pitch, while another did not."
2
A blend of fact and fiction in a book, film, or other work.
"The film is a piece of faction, mixing real events with invented dialogue."
"She writes faction, telling real stories with invented characters."
"The novel is faction, based on a real shipwreck but full of imagined scenes."
How to use faction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rival sub-group within a bigger organisation, or (less commonly) a mix of fact and fiction.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a rival faction
political faction
internal faction
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Word forms
- Plural
- factions
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A breakaway _____ of the party opposed the new policy.
Etymology
From Latin factio, "a group acting together" — a doublet of the word "fashion."
Related words
Rhymes for faction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for faction →
Frequently asked questions
What does “faction” mean?
The word “faction” means a smaller group within a larger organisation that holds a distinct set of views or interests, often at odds with the rest. In plain terms, a rival sub-group within a bigger organisation, or (less commonly) a mix of fact and fiction.
How do you pronounce “faction”?
“Faction” is pronounced FAK-shuhn (/ˈfæk.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “faction” in a sentence?
Here is “faction” used in a sentence: “A breakaway faction of the party opposed the new policy.”
What part of speech is “faction”?
“Faction” is a noun.
Where does the word “faction” come from?
The word “faction” comes from Latin. From Latin factio, "a group acting together" — a doublet of the word "fashion.".
Is “faction” a common word?
“Faction” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “faction” have?
“Faction” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a smaller group within a larger organisation that holds a distinct set of views or interests, often at odds with the rest.
What is the difference between a faction and a party?
A faction is a smaller group within a larger organisation that holds distinct views, often at odds with the rest of the group. A party is typically a standalone political organisation in its own right, though a party can itself contain competing factions.
What is faction as a literary term?
As a literary or film term, faction refers to a blend of fact and fiction in a single work, where real events or people are woven together with invented details. This is a distinct meaning from the political sense of a subgroup with differing views.
Is faction always a negative term?
Faction often implies internal conflict or division, since factions are defined by holding views at odds with the rest of an organisation. It is not necessarily hostile, but it does suggest disagreement or a split in interests within a larger group.
