A section is a distinct, clearly defined part of a larger whole — such as a part of a document, a test, a book, or a physical area. As a verb, to section means to divide something into separate parts.
What Does Section Mean?
Section comes from the Latin sectio, meaning "a cutting", from the verb secare (to cut). The same root gives us sector, segment, intersect, bisect, and dissect — all carrying the core idea of dividing or cutting. Section entered English in the 16th century and is now one of the most versatile and widely used nouns in the language.
As a noun, section describes any formally separated part of a whole. In an exam, you complete the listening section or the writing section. In a report, you refer to Section 3 or the introduction section. In a city, a section might be a residential or commercial area. In law, a section is a numbered subdivision of an Act of Parliament.
As a verb, section is used in two main contexts. In general use, it means to cut or divide: "Section the dough into equal pieces." In British law and medicine, to section someone has the specific meaning of admitting a person to a psychiatric hospital compulsorily under the Mental Health Act — this usage is unique to British English and should be noted by learners.
Compare section with related words: a chapter is a major labelled division of a book; a segment often implies a natural or geometrical division; a portion suggests a share of something; a part is the most general, neutral term. Section occupies a formal, structured middle ground and is especially common in academic, professional, and test-taking contexts.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & note |
|---|---|
| The listening section of the exam has four different exercises. | A2 — basic exam context |
| Please read the first section of the book before tomorrow's class. | B1 — classroom instruction |
| The business section of the newspaper covers the latest market news. | B1 — newspaper structure |
| The report is divided into five sections, each addressing a different area of concern. | B2 — formal report writing |
| The methodology section outlines the criteria by which the data were selected and analysed. | C1 — academic writing register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| listening section | The listening section of the IELTS test lasts about 30 minutes. |
| reading section | Allow yourself enough time to review your answers in the reading section. |
| cross-section | The survey included a cross-section of students from all year groups. |
| reference section | You will find the dictionaries in the reference section of the library. |
| separate section | Grammar exercises are in a separate section at the back of the book. |
| main section | The main section of the report focuses on financial performance. |
| final section | In the final section, the author draws together the key arguments. |
| golden section | Artists have long used the golden section to achieve visual balance. |
| business section | The business section of the newspaper was full of merger announcements. |
| divide into sections | The teacher divided the class into sections for the group activity. |
Usage Notes
Key Points for Learners
Capitalisation: When referring to a specific numbered section of a document, capitalise the word — "See Section 4" or "as described in Section 2.1". In general use, do not capitalise: "the listening section of the exam".
Noun vs verb: As a noun, section is extremely common and suitable at all levels. As a verb, it is less frequent in everyday speech; learners at B2 and above should be aware of it, particularly in British medical and legal contexts ("to section a patient").
Countable noun: Section is a countable noun. Always use an article or determiner with the singular form: "a section", "the section", "this section". The plural is sections with no irregular changes.
Formal register: Section is more formal than part and is particularly suited to academic essays, business reports, exam instructions, and official documents. In conversation, most speakers would say "the last part of the film" rather than "the last section of the film".
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I finished the exam section three.
I finished section three of the exam. (section precedes its number; use "of" to link to the whole)
Please go to a next section.
Please go to the next section. (use the definite article "the" before next/previous/final + section)
The book has a section about of grammar.
The book has a section on grammar. (use "on" not "about of" — section on [topic])
Etymology
From Latin sectio (a cutting, division), from secare (to cut). The same root sec- appears in sector (a divided portion), segment (a piece cut off), intersect (to cut across), bisect (to cut in two), and dissect (to cut apart for examination). The word entered Middle English from Old French section in the 16th century, initially in mathematical and anatomical contexts before broadening to its modern general use.