Some nonbotanical branches

Editorially verified for the Oct 16, 2026

4 Down

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People gathered for a religious service, representing a distinct faith community.

Clue explained

A sect is a distinct religious group, often one that developed from a larger tradition. Here, “branches” means divisions within a faith, not limbs growing from a tree; sects are the nonbotanical kind.

Clue type:
Definition

WaPo Mini Crossword

This clue's Friday, October 16, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Base coaches?: Abbr.
  2. 5Was audibly impressed, perhaps
  3. 7New York university or its location
  4. 8See 3-Down
  5. 9Occasions to spike balls, in brief

Down

  1. 1It may contain savory letters
  2. 2Insinuated
  3. 3With 8-Across, like some candidates and checks
  4. 4Some nonbotanical branches
  5. 6Paragon of plainness or clarity

The answer to “Some nonbotanical branches” in the The Washington Post Mini crossword is SECTS — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on October 16, 2026 at 4-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Some nonbotanical branches” answer

SECTS (5 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's SECTS.

What does SECTS mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of SECTS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a group of people with somewhat different religious beliefs (typically regarded as heretical) from those of a larger group to which they belong

When else has “Some nonbotanical branches” appeared?

The Washington Post Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

October 16, 2026 (most recent) → SECTS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Some nonbotanical branches”?

The answer is SECTS, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on October 16, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Some nonbotanical branches”?

5 letters: SECTS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on October 16, 2026, at 4-Down.

Can “Some nonbotanical branches” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post Mini sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of today's WaPo Mini answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the WaPo Mini answers page.

The Washington Post Mini Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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