Sectional
ˈsɛkʃənəl
Definitions
2 meaningsDivided into or consisting of sections; relating to or characteristic of a section.
ˈsɛkʃənəl
Divided into or composed of sections.
The sectional sofa comfortably seats a large family.
💡 Simply: Imagine a giant puzzle made of different pieces. 'Sectional' means something is made up of these separate pieces or parts. Like a big couch that comes in parts!
👶 For kids: Made of many parts!
More Examples
The museum displayed the painting in a sectional exhibition.
A sectional view of the building showed its internal structure.
How It's Used
"The sectional sofa is perfect for a large living room."
"Sectional tensions between the North and South led to the Civil War."
"The bridge has sectional beams for added strength."
A sofa or other piece of furniture made up of sections that can be arranged in different ways.
ˈsɛkʃənəl
A piece of furniture comprising multiple units which can be arranged in various configurations.
The living room was furnished with a large sectional.
💡 Simply: It's a couch, but it's made of separate parts that can be put together in different ways. Like building blocks for your living room!
👶 For kids: A couch that comes in pieces you can put together!
More Examples
The sectional offered ample seating for guests.
How It's Used
"She purchased a new sectional for her living room."
From "section" + "-al". "Section" derives from Latin "sectio," meaning "a cutting, division." The suffix "-al" denotes "relating to" or "characterized by."
The term 'sectional' gained prominence during periods of political and social division, particularly in the context of regional conflicts such as the American Civil War.
Memory tip
Think of a sofa made up of separate sections – a sectional sofa.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: sectio