die Fraktion, -en
faction · parliamentary group
Eine Gruppe von Menschen, die in einem Parlament oder einer Organisation zusammenarbeitet, weil sie ähnliche Ziele oder Meinungen hat.
Meaning in English
Fraktion has two common meanings:
-
Politics / groups:
A parliamentary group / faction within a larger body (especially in a parliament), usually members of the same party or with shared political goals.
Example meaning: die Fraktion im Bundestag = the parliamentary group in the German federal parliament. -
General / science & everyday use:
A fraction / portion / part of a whole, often used in technical contexts (chemistry, industry) or sometimes more generally.
Example meaning: eine Fraktion des Öls = a fraction/portion of the oil (e.g., a distillation fraction).
Word parts (etymology/structure)
- The word comes from Latin fractio (“a breaking”), related to brechen (“to break”).
- Conceptually it refers to something broken off / separated: a subgroup (politics) or a separated portion (science).
German synonyms
Political sense:
- Parlamentsfraktion
- Gruppe
- (sometimes) Flügel (more like a “wing” within a party)
- Splittergruppe (often for a small breakaway group; can be negative)
Fraction/portion sense:
- Teil
- Anteil
- Portion
- Bruchteil
- (technical) Destillatfraktion, Teilfraktion (depending on context)
German antonyms (where applicable)
Political sense:
- Gesamtheit
- Einheit
- (sometimes) Mehrheit vs. Fraktion in the sense of a smaller subgroup, depending on context
Fraction/portion sense:
- Ganzes
- Gesamtmenge
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Examples
Eine Fraktion im Parlament möchte das Gesetz ändern.noun
A faction in parliament wants to change the law.
Jede Fraktion hat ihre eigenen Ziele.noun
Each faction has its own goals.
In jedem Parlament gibt es mehrere Fraktionen.noun
Every parliament has several parliamentary groups.
Seine Meinung repräsentiert die Fraktion nicht.noun
His opinion does not represent the faction.
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