# sectional

/ˈsɛkʃənəɫ/ (US) · /sˈɛkʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sectional
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. modular sofa

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a large sofa made of several separate pieces that you can arrange in different ways.

For teachers: an item of upholstered furniture, typically a sofa, consisting of multiple modular units that can be configured in various arrangements.

- We bought a large grey sectional so the whole family could sit together in the living room.
- The interior designer recommended a L-shaped sectional to maximise seating capacity without obstructing the flow of traffic through the open-plan space.

Usage: Commonly used as a standalone noun in North America; in British English, 'modular sofa' or 'corner sofa' is more frequent.

### 2. music rehearsal

noun · CEFR B2

a practice session where only one group of instruments, like the violins or flutes, plays together.

For teachers: a rehearsal involving only one section of an orchestra or band, such as the brass or woodwinds.

- The trumpet players stayed after school for a sectional to master the difficult middle part of the song.
- The conductor scheduled separate sectionals for the strings and percussion to address specific rhythmic inconsistencies before the full dress rehearsal.

### 3. aviation map

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a detailed map that pilots use to navigate in the air.

For teachers: a sectional aeronautical chart designed for visual navigation of slow to medium speed aircraft.

- The pilot checked the sectional to identify the radio towers along the flight path.
- Before departure, the student pilot meticulously plotted the course on a current sectional, noting all restricted airspaces and navigational aids.

### 4. sports tournament

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a competition held at a local or regional level, usually before a national championship.

For teachers: a tournament or athletic contest held at the section level, typically serving as a qualifying round for state or national championships.

- Our high school basketball team won the sectionals and moved on to the state finals.
- The athletes faced intense pressure during the sectionals, as only the top three finishers in each event would advance to the regional meet.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form when referring to the tournament event.

### 5. divided into parts

adjective · CEFR B2

made of several parts or relating to only one part of something.

For teachers: relating to a particular section or composed of distinct sections.

- The new library has a sectional design that allows for future expansion.
- The researcher argued that sectional interests within the party were preventing a unified approach to the new economic policy.

## Examples

- We bought a large sectional for our new living room.
- The family chose a grey velvet sectional because the modular pieces allowed them to fit it perfectly into the corner of the den.
- While traditional sofas offer a fixed silhouette, a sectional provides the flexibility to adapt the seating arrangement to the specific architectural constraints of a modern open-plan living space.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.