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Glite Dictionary
factional

factional

6 7.5
Involving conflict between small groups inside a larger group
  • adjective
  • /ˈfækʃənl/
translation icon : faccional
  • According to Baylies and Szeftel, the MMD "seems to reproduce the structural conflicts and factional intrigues" that characterized the previous UNIP regime.
  • factional politics
  • factional struggles
  • factional infighting

Examples

  • Such a district may hold one responsible if one is unfair, if one is the prisoner of factional interests.

    Academic text (1993)

  • In this sense, military corruption significantly influenced factional conflicts within the Brazilian Army in the years following World War II.

    Academic text (1997)

  • In the back region, factional conflict is just as intense between women as it is between men.

    Academic text (1990)

  • As Madison recognized, the larger and more complex the governmental body, the higher the cost of factional influence.

    Academic text (1997)

  • While Israel's new security measures reduced the number of Israeli victims, factional and societal violence increased the number of Palestinian victims.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Today, top-level cooperation is as much the norm as debilitating factional competition.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Some analysts fear a factional struggle could ensue if Mubarak suddenly departed the scene.

    Academic text (1993)

  • To a significant extent, communal and factional cleavages will continue to structure the political and associational realm.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Indira Gandhi's emergency irreconcilably damaged the Congress's ability to accommodate factional interests.

    Academic text (1997)

  • The factional disputes within the party have led to a lack of unity and progress.

Synonyms

divisive
vsfactional
92 6.8

Making people disagree and split into groups

refers specifically to conflict and activity among small organized groups within a larger group
internecine
vsfactional
  • Formal
3 9.9

A fight within a group that harms everyone involved

means internal group conflict but without stressing extreme destruction
schismatical
vsfactional
  • Archaic
9.9

Causes a split within a religious group or organization

is about conflict between small organized groups within a larger body
fissiparous
vsfactional
  • Formal
9.9

Tending to make a group split into smaller parts

focuses on active conflict or rivalry among organized subgroups inside a larger group

Antonyms

unified
127 4.1

Different parts join to make one whole

cohesive
38 6.3

Keeping people or parts united and working well

How Factional

sectarian
37 7.7
fractious
7 9.9
factional
6 7.5
cooperative
119 3.5
unified
127 4.1

Surface Forms

factional positive

Morphology

factional = faction (transparent) = faction + al

The adjective is a straightforward derivation from the noun 'faction' with the common adjectival suffix '-al'.

Etymology

Factional comes from faction, which comes from the old Latin word facere meaning 'to make', the same root you see in factory. A faction was originally a small group 'made' inside a larger group, so factional describes things about small groups, their rivalries, or divisions.