A sect is a group of people who share a set of beliefs and a way of living them out — most often a religious group that has split from a larger one, or that sits a little apart from it. The people in a sect usually follow one teacher, one book, or one strict path quite closely.

A sectSect is是 a group of people一群人 who share a set of beliefs共有一套信念 and a way of living them out也照那套信念生活的 — most often a religious group通常是宗教團體 that has split from a larger one從一個比較大的團體分出來 or that sits a little apart from it或跟它保持一點距離的。 The people in a sectSect 裡的人 usually follow通常會很緊密地跟隨 one teacher, one book, or one strict path一位老師、一本書，或一條嚴格的道路 quite closely。

They may feel they have kept the true way while the bigger church or faith has drifted. Though actually, the word is cooler than church, and cooler than the names those groups give themselves.

They他們 may feel可能覺得 they have kept the true way自己守住了真正的道路 while while 而 the bigger church or faith比較大的教會或信仰 has drifted卻已經走偏了。 Though actually不過實際上 the wordsect 這個字 is cooler than church語氣比 church 冷淡 and cooler than the names those groups give themselves也比那些團體自己取的名字冷淡。

In everyday English, sect can sound small, closed, or a little sharp, as if the group is intense and separate. Newspapers like it for breakaway groups; scholars use it more calmly for any distinct school of belief.

In everyday English在日常英文裡 sect sect 聽起來可能 can sound small, closed, or a little sharp小、封閉，或有點尖銳 as if the group is intense and separate好像這個團體很激進又很自成一格。 Newspapers報紙 like it for breakaway groups喜歡拿它來講分裂出去的團體 ; scholars學者 use it more calmly用起來比較平靜 for any distinct school of belief可以指任何一個獨立的信仰派別。

You will sometimes hear it outside religion — a philosophical sect, a political sect — but the religious meaning is the one students meet first. It is not a swear word, and it is not as heavy as cult, but it is rarely a warm compliment.

You你 will sometimes hear it有時候也會聽到這個字 outside religion在宗教以外的地方 — a philosophical sect, a political sect像 philosophical sect（哲學派別）、political sect（政治派系） — but but 學生最先接觸到的 the religious meaning通常是宗教這個意思 is the one students meet first。 It它 is not a swear word不是罵人的話 and it and也 is not as heavy as cult沒有 cult（邪教）那麼重 but but 也 it is rarely a warm compliment很少是一句溫暖的稱讚。