faction
n. countablen. a small group of people within a larger group who have different ideas or goals than everyone else. These groups often disagree or fight with the main group to get what they want.
n. a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics or literature. Often implies internal conflict or a lack of unity within the parent organization.
A small faction within the party disagreed with the new law.
The rebel movement eventually split into several warring factions, each claiming to be the true voice of the people.
The director's latest film explores how a small faction of loyalists attempted to overthrow the established order from within, highlighting the fragile nature of political alliances.
Borrowed from Middle French faction, from Latin factiō (“a group of people acting together, a political faction”), noun of process from perfect passive participle factus, from faciō (“do, make”). Doublet of fashion.
Blend of fact + fiction.
Commonly used with the preposition 'within' to identify the larger parent group.