faction
gb/fˈækʃən/ us/fˈækʃən/
B2
English
~ 8000
frakció, csoportosulás, tényalapú fikció, dokumentumfikció, tényregény, pártoskodás, frakcióharc
NOUN
B2
1
frakció
B2
Usage pattern:
a faction within [a party/organization]
A conservative faction within the party blocked the proposed climate bill.
A párton belüli konzervatív frakció megakadályozta a javasolt klímavédelmi törvényjavaslat elfogadását.
The company’s board is divided into factions that disagree about the future strategy.
A vállalat igazgatótanácsa olyan csoportokra szakadt, amelyek nem értenek egyet a jövőbeli stratégiát illetően.
Student factions on campus are arguing over how to respond to the new policy.
In the game, you choose a faction and then fight for control of the map.
The peace deal brought together the country’s main warring factions for the first time.
Learner examples
There is a small faction in the party that wants new leaders.
A pártban van egy kis csoportosulás, amely új vezetőket akar.
Two factions in the club could not agree on how to spend the money.
A klubban két tábor nem tudott megegyezni abban, hogyan költsék el a pénzt.
The team broke into factions after the coach was fired.
Each faction in the game has different powers.
The leader tried to unite all the factions.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "faction" with "fraction". "Faction" is a group of people inside a larger group, especially in politics or organizations. "Fraction" is a number, like 1/2 or 3/4. Some also confuse "faction" with "fiction" (imaginary stories), which is unrelated in this meaning.
Meaning
organized subgroup inside a larger group
Collocations
political faction
|party faction
|rival factions
|warring factions
|hardline faction
|faction within the party
Synonyms
wing (Often used in politics to describe a part of a party with particular views, sometimes sounding a little softer and less hostile than 'faction'.)
Antonyms
unity (Emphasizes that the larger group remains together without breaking into smaller, competing parts.)
Themes
politics
|society
|business
|relationships
Definition
A small group inside a bigger group, often in politics or an organization, that has its own ideas or plans and may disagree with other people in the group.
A small, organized group within a larger political, social, or other organization, often with its own distinct views or goals that may conflict with those of the rest.
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
[a work] of faction
The author describes her latest book as faction, not pure fiction, because it closely follows real court records.
A szerző legújabb könyvét nem tiszta fikciónak, hanem tényalapú fikciónak nevezi, mert szorosan követi a valódi bírósági iratokat.
His documentary-style faction blurs the line between journalism and storytelling.
Dokumentarista stílusú tényalapú fikciója elmossa a határt az újságírás és a történetmesélés között.
The film is faction, using real interviews mixed with acted scenes to tell the story of the scandal.
Learner examples
This movie is faction because it tells a true story but adds new scenes.
Ez a film tényalapú fikció, mert igaz történetet mesél el, de kitalált jeleneteket is hozzátesz.
The writer says his book is not fiction but faction.
Az író azt mondja, hogy a könyve nem puszta fikció, hanem tényalapú fikció.
I like faction because I learn real history and enjoy a story at the same time.
Common mistake:
Learners may assume 'faction' here is just a spelling mistake for 'fiction'. In publishing and media, 'faction' is used more narrowly for works that clearly combine true events with invented elements, often discussed in reviews or criticism.
Meaning
story mixing fact and fiction
Collocations
a work of faction
|political faction novel
|historical faction thriller
Synonyms
docudrama (More commonly used for films and TV that show real events with added drama; 'faction' can be used for books as well as films and sounds more like a critical or marketing label.)
Antonyms
non-fiction (Non-fiction is expected to stay with real facts and not invent events or dialogue, while faction intentionally mixes real facts with made‑up elements.)
Themes
literature
|media
|culture
|arts_entertainment
|education
Definition
A story, book, or film that uses real people or real events but also adds made‑up parts, so it is part fact and part fiction.
A type of book, film, or other narrative that is based on real people or events but includes invented scenes, dialogue, or details, blending factual reporting with fictional techniques.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
3
pártoskodás
C1
frakcióharc
C1
Usage pattern:
faction and [another negative noun]
The kingdom was weakened by years of faction and intrigue at court.
A királyságot éveken át gyengítette az udvari pártoskodás és intrika.
Civil institutions collapsed under the weight of faction and religious hatred.
A polgári intézmények összeomlottak a pártoskodás és a vallási gyűlölet súlya alatt.
Tired of faction and endless plotting, the new ruler tried to centralize power.
Learner examples
The writer says the old city was full of faction and hate.
Az író szerint a régi város tele volt pártoskodással és gyűlölettel.
In the play, the country falls because of faction at the king’s court.
A darabban az ország az udvari pártoskodás miatt bukik el.
The historian blames faction inside the army for the defeat.
Common mistake:
This older sense is easy to confuse with the more common meaning of 'faction' as a group itself. Here, the word refers to the conflict caused by those groups, not the groups alone. It appears mostly in literary, historical, or formal texts.
Meaning
internal conflict within a group
Collocations
faction and intrigue
|faction and strife
|faction and disorder
Synonyms
strife (A literary word for strong conflict or anger between groups; 'faction' focuses more on conflict that comes from competing internal groups.)
Antonyms
harmony (Suggests peaceful relations and agreement within the group, instead of conflict and plotting.)
Themes
politics
|history
|society
|relationships
Definition
Strong fighting or arguing between small groups inside a larger group, especially in politics, used mainly in formal or old‑fashioned writing.
Serious disagreement, intrigue, or conflict between small groups inside a larger organization or society.
Grammar
Dictionary form
faction
IPA
GB/fˈækʃən/
US/fˈækʃən/
Syllables & stress
fac - tion (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fac)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: faction
- Plural: faction, factions
Word family
Forms
factions
noun
Core family
factional
adjective
factionalism
noun
Advanced or less common
factionalize
verb
factious
adjective
Expressions
hardline faction
1/hˈɑɹdlˌaɪn fˈækʃən/
fixed phrase
subgroup with very strict views
A group inside a larger group, especially in politics, whose members have very strong, strict, or extreme opinions and do not want to compromise.
Examples
- The hardline faction refused to support any deal with the opposition.
- A hardline faction in the union is pushing for a full strike instead of talks.
rival factions
1/ɹˈaɪvəl fˈækʃənz/
fixed phrase
competing groups inside an organization
Different small groups inside a larger group that compete with each other for power or control.
Examples
- Two rival factions within the party are fighting over who should lead it.
- The company’s future depends on whether its rival factions can reach a compromise.
split into factions
1/splˈɪt ˈɪntu fˈækʃənz/
fixed phrase
when a group breaks into subgroups
To break a larger group into several smaller groups that disagree and often compete with each other.
Examples
- After the scandal, the party split into factions that no longer trusted one another.
- The fan base split into factions, each supporting a different version of the show.
warring factions
1/wˈɔɹɪŋ fˈækʃənz/
fixed phrase
groups inside a whole that are fighting
Different small groups inside a larger group (for example, a country or party) that are fighting or strongly attacking each other.
Examples
- The peace talks finally brought the warring factions to the same table.
- Mediators are trying to build trust between the warring factions in the region.