faction

Pronunciation key ( fak′shən )

fac•tion

n.

[<F. <L factio making, doing, company -onis <facere do. Pp. of facere see FACT., Doublet of FASHION.]

1. Group of people united by common interests or dissension; partisan.
2. An opposition group within politics or a country, acting together and usually against particular leadership or a larger body.
3. People who align themselves with people of common interest for a common purpose or goal.
4. A party within a party or irregular association of partisans.
5. Cabal.
6. Violent opposition, turbulence, dissent.

Syn. clique

fac′tion·ist, Obs. fac′tion·ar´y

References

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955

Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary, Comprehensive International Edition, ©1976

Merriam-Webster Dictionary & Thesaurus, ©2004