noun

sect

SEKT/sekt/

A subgroup with distinct beliefs within a larger religious or ideological movement.

This religious sect follows stricter fasting rules than other believers.

A text-free two-stage comparison shows a Christian congregation developing a distinct smaller following: three recognizable members subsequently worship together in a separate, plainly furnished setting around their own leader, while the original congregation continues separately.

Etymology

Latin secta described a following or school of thought—a group sharing someone's way. Its religious history seems also entangled with the idea of being “cut off” from a larger body.

In context

Archaeological Research Facility, UC Berkeley25:00

then there are the jews they were a minority group everywhere in the roman empire and that includes a substantial community in the city of rome they were a separatist sect with their own rituals

2020-10-28 Conkey et al. - Inequalities in the Ancient Mediterranean

More examples

Several sects within the movement disagree about its central teachings.
She belongs to a Christian sect that rejects infant baptism.
The political sect differs from the broader movement on economic policy.

Forms

sect · sects

sectarian adjective — Relating to a particular religious or ideological sect.

Similar words

denomination: Usually names an established religious branch rather than a dissenting subgroup.
faction: Emphasizes competing interests within a group rather than shared beliefs.