# sect

> English word · Noun · IPA /sɛkt/ · frequency rank #14,210

## Definitions
1. An offshoot of a larger religion or denomination.
2. A group following a specific ideal or a leader.
3. A cutting; a scion.

## Etymology
From Middle English secte, from Old French secte (“a sect in philosophy or religion”), from Late Latin secta (“a sect in philosophy or religion, a school, party, faction, class, guild, band, particularly a heretical doctrine or sect, etc.”), possibly, from Latin sequi (“to follow”). Alternatively linked to sectus (“cut off, divided”), past participle of secō.

## Easily confused with
- **see** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-see)
- **set** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-set)
- **sex** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sex)
- **sit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sit)
- **sen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sen)
- **SEO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-seo)
- **SEP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sep)
- **sic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sic)
- **ser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-ser)
- **sew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sew)
- **ses** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-ses)
- **sem** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sem)
- **SEQ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-seq)
- **SSC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-ssc)
- **sed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sed)
- **SMT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-smt)
- **sei** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sei)
- **Sel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sel)
- **SLC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-slc)
- **sot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sect-vs-sot)

## Common misspellings (6)
`esct`, `scet`, `secct`, `sectt`, `setc`, `ssect`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sect