Sectionalisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A practice or doctrine promoting the interests of a specific region or group to the detriment of broader unity
2. A tendency among different regions or groups to prioritize their local concerns over national interests
3. The act of favoring sectional interests, potentially leading to conflicts between territorial entities within a larger political framework

Etymology: "Sectionalisms" is the plural of "sectionalism," which combines "sectional" with the suffix "-ism." The base word "sectional" comes from "section," itself rooted in the Latin "sectio," meaning a cutting, from "secare," to cut. A section is literally a cut-off piece of something, and "sectional" took on the sense of relating to one such piece, particularly a part of a larger whole. The suffix "-ism" entered English from Greek "-ismos" through Latin and French, and it attaches to a base to name a doctrine, practice, or system of belief. Put together, "sectionalism" names the commitment to a part of a country or society above the whole. The word is a plain compound of English materials with a classical suffix, with no dramatic shift in sense: a cut-off piece of a nation becomes a loyalty to that piece.