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faction

faction

193 5.5
A small group inside a larger group with different ideas that wants power
  • noun
  • /ˈfækʃən/
translation icon : facción
  • The country is splintered into more factions than ever before -
  • party factions
  • political factions
  • rival factions

And this was all about social factions in Great Britain.

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Examples

  • There are stories about factions within the intelligence community at war with each other over the UFO issue.

  • During his campaign, Garfield had a lot of opposition from the Stalwarts faction of his Republican party.

  • What Madison is most afraid of is a single faction, A majority faction.

  • Three leaders of a rival faction have been murdered.

  • The Girondin faction believe war will unite France.

  • Congress was divided into so many different factions that none commanded a majority.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Three major factions emerged, each vying for power.

  • In many of these places, there's so much rivalry, with different factions saying theirs is the man.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Lacking a national currency, different factions issued their own bills for use within their fiefdoms.

    Academic text (2011)
  • After much debate, the committee split into several factions with differing opinions on the new policy.

Synonyms

group
vsfaction
1.0

A number of people or things seen as one unit

is a specific organized and sometimes power-seeking subgroup within that unit
camp
vsfaction
234 3.5

A group of people with the same belief or goal in a larger group

is more organized and often aims to gain power within the larger group
cell
vsfaction
  • Literature
123 7.1

A small secret group that works inside a larger organization, often for political aims

is a visible organized subgroup rather than a secret operational core
sect
vsfaction
84 6.1

A small group that splits from a larger religious group because of different beliefs

is a general internal group that may disagree or try to gain authority
cabal
vsfaction
  • Formal
32 8.9

A secret group that plans together to gain power, often in politics

can be open or closed but is not necessarily conspiratorial in method
subgroup
vsfaction
16 3.6

A smaller part of a larger group that has its own role or feature

is a politically active small unit that may try to take control
splinter group
vsfaction
7 5.0

A small group that leaves a larger group because its members disagree

stays inside the larger group and may push to change or control it
religious sect
vsfaction
5 4.7

A small group inside a religion with different beliefs or practices

is not limited to religious differences and may focus on power or policy
subclan
vsfaction
1 7.1

A small group inside a larger clan that shares an ancestor and customs

is defined by political or opinion differences rather than ancestry or customs
subfraction
vsfaction
8.1

A small group inside a larger political or social group

is the recognized small organized group that can challenge the main group
camarilla
vsfaction
  • Literature
9.9

A small hidden group that tries to influence leaders by secret actions

may act openly and focus on organized collective goals rather than secret plotting
junto
vsfaction
  • Archaic
9.9

A small group that meets in secret to gain power

is broader and can include public organization and direct competition for control

Antonyms

484 1.0

All of something seen as one unit

217 2.8

People or parts joined and acting as one

Compounds

Red Army Faction
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A left-wing group in Germany known for violent attacks to reach political aims

A political group that supports the Ukrainian nationalist ideas of Stepan Bandera

A group that supports women's right to choose whether to have an abortion

A group of people who oppose abortion and want it made illegal

9.9

A group in a party that supports left-wing ideas and is called by others in a negative way

Trumplican faction
  • Literature
9.5

A group within a political party that strongly supports Donald Trump and his policies

How Powerful

bloc
75 4.8
party
3.2
faction
193 5.5
movement
3.6
to group
38 1.2

Surface Forms

faction singular
factions plural

Etymology

Faction comes from the Latin root facere which means 'to do' or 'to make', the same root behind familiar words like fact and factory. So a faction is a small group formed inside a larger one — people who act together and often try to push their own views or gain power.