faction

Definitions

fact (a thing done) + -ion = 'a doing, a deed.' Latin factio first meant simply 'a way of acting' or 'a group that acts together.' In Roman politics it narrowed to a clique pursuing its own agenda — people united by what they do (and against), which is exactly today's sense.

Why It Means This

Faction and fashion are siblings: both come from Latin factio ('a making/doing'). Fashion kept the 'way of making/shaping' sense, faction kept the 'group acting together' sense. Remember faction as 'a group defined by what it does within a bigger body.'

Common Collocations

• 1.political faction政治派系
• 2.rival faction敌对派系
• 3.warring faction交战派系

Example Sentences

• 1.

  A small faction within the party opposed the new leader.

• 2.

  The rebel movement split into rival factions.

• 3.

  Warring factions fought for control of the capital.