sectional
B2Formal to neutral; technical in some contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Relating to a distinct part or division of something.
Can describe furniture consisting of separate, combinable units, or a viewpoint that prioritizes a specific group or region over the whole.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective. Its use as a noun ('sectionals') is common in American English referring to modular furniture or competitive sports events.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a noun, 'sectionals' is far more common in AmE for modular sofas and qualifying sports competitions. BrE tends to use 'modular sofa' or specify the sport (e.g., 'qualifying rounds').
Connotations
In socio-political contexts, 'sectional interests' carries a negative connotation of factionalism in both varieties, but may be more prevalent in AmE historical discourse (e.g., 'sectional conflict' over slavery).
Frequency
Higher frequency in AmE due to common noun usage for furniture and sports.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sectional [N] (e.g., sectional diagram)highly/purely/overly sectionalsectional of (e.g., a sectional of the building)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sectional interests (putting a group's needs above all others)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to market segmentation or departmental performance: 'The report provides a sectional breakdown of quarterly sales.'
Academic
Describing a part of a study or a detailed view: 'The thesis includes a sectional analysis of 19th-century demographics.'
Everyday
Almost exclusively for furniture: 'We're looking for a new sectional for the living room.' (AmE)
Technical
In engineering/architecture: 'Refer to the sectional drawing for bolt placement details.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A. Not standard as a verb.
American English
- N/A. Not standard as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A. 'Sectionally' is extremely rare and non-standard.
American English
- N/A. 'Sectionally' is extremely rare and non-standard.
adjective
British English
- The debate revealed deeply sectional loyalties within the party.
- The architect prepared a sectional elevation of the wall.
American English
- The team advanced to the sectional playoffs.
- We bought a grey sectional that fits our corner space perfectly.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The big sofa is called a sectional.
- The map shows a sectional view of the city centre.
- The policy was criticized for favouring sectional interests over the national good.
- They sell the sofa as a three-piece sectional.
- The historian argued that the conflict was driven by entrenched sectional allegiances rather than ideology.
- The engineering drawings include plan, elevation, and sectional details.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SOFA cut into SECTIONS. A SECTIONAL sofa is made of SECTIONS you can combine.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE WHOLE IS A SUM OF PARTS (a sectional sofa, a sectional view).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'секционный' for abstract 'partial' meaning; use 'частичный'. For 'sectional interests', use 'групповые/корпоративные интересы', not 'секционные'.
- The furniture term 'sectional' is often translated as 'модульный диван'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sectional' to mean 'detailed' or 'thorough' (use 'comprehensive').
- Confusing 'sectional' with 'sectoral' (related to economic sectors).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sectional' MOST commonly used in everyday American English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is moderately common, especially in technical writing and American English for furniture. It is less frequent in general everyday British English.
Yes, primarily in American English. It commonly refers to a modular sofa ('a new sectional') or a sports tournament leading to a championship ('state sectionals').
'Partial' means incomplete or biased towards. 'Sectional' specifically refers to relating to a distinct section or part of a larger whole, often physical or geographical. A 'sectional view' is a drawing of a slice through an object; a 'partial view' is an incomplete opinion.
No. It is neutral in technical contexts (sectional diagram). It acquires a negative connotation in socio-political contexts ('sectional interests') where it implies prioritizing a part over the whole, leading to division.
Collections
Part of a collection
Science and Research
B2 · 43 words · Academic and scientific research methodology.