1. members of a religious sect, especially those who have separated from an established church
Usage: formal; often historical

Examples

• The sectaries were persecuted for their religious beliefs.
• Many sectaries fled to the New World seeking religious freedom.
• The government viewed the sectaries as a threat to social order.
• Historical records document the struggles of various sectaries.
• The sectaries established their own places of worship.
• Religious tolerance eventually protected the rights of sectaries.