Sector vs. Segment: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Sector" refers to a distinct part of society or an economy, categorized by shared characteristics, while "segment" is a part or division of something larger, often used in more general contexts.
Key Differences
A "sector" typically refers to a broad, distinct part of an economy or society, like the technology sector, characterized by unique features and industries. A "segment," however, is a subdivision of something larger and can be used in various contexts, such as a market segment or a segment of a circle.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
In business, "sector" is used to categorize parts of the economy, such as the public or private sector, based on common characteristics. "Segment" is often used in marketing to refer to a portion of a broader market, defined by specific criteria like age or income.
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Nov 18, 2023
In the context of geography or physical space, a "sector" can denote a specific area within a larger region, like a sector in a city. In contrast, "segment" might refer to a part of a road or a portion of a geographical area.
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Nov 18, 2023
When discussing organizations, "sector" can be used to denote different areas of operation or focus, like the health sector in government. "Segment," in this context, could refer to subdivisions within a department or a specific demographic within an organization's target audience.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
The term "sector" is often associated with broader, more defined areas within a larger system or structure, whereas "segment" implies a division or portion of something, not necessarily limited to economic or social systems.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Scope
Broad, defined areas in an economy or society
Subdivision or part of something larger
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Nov 18, 2023
Usage Context
Economic and social systems
Various, including marketing, geometry
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Nov 18, 2023
Implication
Categorization based on shared characteristics
Division or part within a larger whole
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Nov 18, 2023
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Sector and Segment Definitions
Sector
A distinct part of society or economy.
He works in the private sector.
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Nov 18, 2023
Segment
A part or division of something larger.
The new highway segment reduced travel time significantly.
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Nov 18, 2023
Sector
A division within a governmental or organizational structure.
The education sector is undergoing significant reforms.
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Nov 18, 2023
Segment
A portion of a geometric figure.
The line segment connects two points on the circle.
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Nov 18, 2023
Sector
A part or division, as of a city or a national economy
The manufacturing sector.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Segment
Any of the parts into which something can be divided
Segments of the community.
A segment of a television program.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A measuring instrument consisting of two graduated arms hinged together at one end.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
The area bounded by a chord and the arc of a curve subtended by the chord.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(Computers) A portion of a storage device making up the smallest addressable unit of information.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A division of a defensive position for which one military unit is responsible.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
(Biology) A clearly differentiated subdivision of an organism or part, such as a metamere.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
One of the parts into which any body naturally separates or is divided; a part divided or cut off; a section; a portion.
A segment of an orange; a segment of a compound or divided leaf
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(geometry) part of a circle, extending to the center; circular sector
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
A straight path between two points that is the shortest distance between them.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(computer hardware) fixed-sized unit (traditionally 512 bytes) of sequential data stored on a track of a digital medium (compare to block)
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
(geometry) The part of a circle between its circumference and a chord (usually other than the diameter).
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(military) an area designated by boundaries within which a unit operates, and for which it is responsible
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(science fiction) a fictional region of space designated for navigational or governance purposes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(calculation) an instrument consisting of two rulers of equal length joined by a hinge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
(botany) A portion of an organ whose cells are derived from a single cell within the primordium from which the organ developed.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
(zoology) One of several parts of an organism, with similar structure, arranged in a chain; such as a vertebra, or a third of an insect's thorax.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
(motor racing) A fixed, continuous section of the track, such that sectors do not overlap but all sectors make up the whole track.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
(broadcasting) A part of a broadcast program, devoted to a topic.
The news showed a segment on global warming.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A part of a circle comprehended between two radii and the included arc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
(computing) A region of memory or a fragment of an executable file designated to contain a particular part of a program.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A mathematical instrument, consisting of two rulers connected at one end by a joint, each arm marked with several scales, as of equal parts, chords, sines, tangents, etc., one scale of each kind on each arm, and all on lines radiating from the common center of motion. The sector is used for plotting, etc., to any scale.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
(travel) A portion of an itinerary: it may be a flight or train between two cities, or a car or hotel booked in a particular city.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
An astronomical instrument, the limb of which embraces a small portion only of a circle, used for measuring differences of declination too great for the compass of a micrometer. When it is used for measuring zenith distances of stars, it is called a zenith sector.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
(heraldry) A bearing representing only one part of a rounded object.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A plane figure bounded by two radii and the included arc of a circle
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
(ambitransitive) To divide into segments or sections.
Segment the essay by topic.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A body of people who form part of society or economy;
The public sector
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
One of the parts into which any body naturally separates or is divided; a part divided or cut off; a section; a portion; as, a segment of an orange; a segment of a compound or divided leaf.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A particular aspect of life or activity;
He was helpless in an important sector of his life
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
A part cut off from a figure by a line or plane; especially, that part of a circle contained between a chord and an arc of that circle, or so much of the circle as is cut off by the chord; as, the segment acb in the Illustration.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
The minimum track length that can be assigned to store information; unless otherwise specified a sector of data consists of 512 bytes
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
A piece in the form of the sector of a circle, or part of a ring; as, the segment of a sectional fly wheel or flywheel rim.
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
One of the cells or division formed by segmentation, as in egg cleavage or in fissiparous cell formation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
Measuring instrument consisting of two graduated arms hinged at one end
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Oct 19, 2023
Segment
To divide or separate into parts in growth; to undergo segmentation, or cleavage, as in the segmentation of the ovum.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A subdivision of a larger area or community.
The northern sector of the city faced power outages.
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Nov 18, 2023
Segment
One of several parts or pieces that fit with others to constitute a whole object;
A section of a fishing rod
Metal sections were used below ground
Finished the final segment of the road
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A distinct part of a geometric shape.
A sector is formed between two radii of a circle.
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Nov 18, 2023
Segment
One of the parts into which something naturally divides;
A segment of an orange
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Oct 19, 2023
Sector
A group of similar businesses or activities.
The technology sector has been rapidly expanding.
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Nov 18, 2023
Segment
A subdivision within a market or population.
The company targets the youth segment of the market.
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Nov 18, 2023
Segment
A distinct part of a broadcast or presentation.
The news segment on climate change was very informative.
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Nov 18, 2023
Segment
A section or portion of an object or entity.
Each segment of the orange was perfectly juicy.
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Nov 18, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is "sector" used in mathematics?
Yes, in geometry, a sector is a part of a circle enclosed by two radii and an arc.
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Nov 18, 2023
What is the definition of "sector"?
A sector is a distinct part or area within a larger domain, often used in economics to refer to a part of the economy.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can "sector" refer to a physical area?
Yes, in contexts like geography or urban planning, a sector can refer to a specific physical area.
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Nov 18, 2023
What does "segment" mean?
A segment generally means a part or section of something that is somewhat separate from the rest.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can both words be used interchangeably?
Not always, as they can have specific meanings in different contexts.
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Nov 18, 2023
How is "sector" used in technology?
In technology, especially computing, a sector can refer to a subdivision of a computer's hard drive.
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Nov 18, 2023
Can "segment" refer to a market division?
Yes, in marketing, a market segment refers to a subgroup of people or organizations sharing one or more characteristics.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Is "sector" used in business?
Yes, in business, it refers to a part of the economy characterized by a distinct set of activities or products.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Is "segment" a mathematical term?
Yes, in geometry, a line segment is part of a line that is bounded by two distinct end points.
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Nov 18, 2023
What is the main difference between "sector" and "segment"?
"Sector" often implies a larger, more general division, while "segment" suggests a smaller, more specific part.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Is "segment" used in everyday speech?
Yes, it's commonly used to refer to parts of objects or groups in daily conversation.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Is "segment" more used in technical language?
Yes, "segment" is often used in technical contexts, like computing and biology.
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Nov 18, 2023
How do the meanings differ in a business context?
In business, a "sector" refers to a broad category of the economy, while a "segment" often refers to a specific target market within a sector.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
How is "segment" used in biology?
In biology, it refers to each of the separate parts into which a body or organism is divided.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Does "segment" have a specific meaning in computing?
In computing, a segment can refer to a portion of a program or a part of a network.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Can "sector" be used in everyday language?
Yes, but it's more commonly used in professional or academic contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Can these words have multiple meanings?
Yes, both "sector" and "segment" have multiple meanings depending on the context.
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Nov 18, 2023
How should I choose between "sector" and "segment"?
"sector" for larger, more general areas, and "segment" for smaller, more specific parts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Which word is more common in economic contexts?
"Sector" is more common in economics, referring to large parts of the economy.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
Which word is more formal?
Both words are formal, but "sector" is more likely to appear in specialized, professional contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 18, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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