sectarianism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   rigid or exclusive loyalty to a religious, political, or ideological group, especially when it causes hostility toward other groups

   The peace initiative tried to replace sectarianism with cooperation across religious communities.

2. 2
   noun

   a political system that distributes power or public offices among religious sects

   The constitution institutionalized sectarianism by reserving senior offices for particular religious communities.

From sectarian + -ism. Sectarian derives from sect, through Latin secta ("a following, school, or party"), traditionally associated with sequi ("to follow"). The word came to denote excessive attachment to one's own religious or political division and the conflict produced by that attachment.

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