Ism dictionary definition

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ism

-ism

Use ism in a sentence

a doctrine, theory, system, etc., esp. one whose name ends in -ism: a somewhat dismissive term

Origin of ism

; from -ism

-ism

the act, practice, or result of: terrorism
the condition or state of being: pauperism
action, conduct, or qualities characteristic of: patriotism
the doctrine, school, theory, or principle of: cubism, socialism
devotion to: nationalism
an instance, example, or peculiarity of: Gallicism, witticism
an abnormal condition caused by: alcoholism
belief, attitudes, actions, or conduct characterized by prejudice or bigotry related to: ageism, classism, sexism

Origin of -ism

Middle English -isme ; from Old French and amp; Classical Latin -isma (; from Gr) and amp; -ismus (; from Classical Greek -ismos): origin, originally suffix of action or of state, forming nouns from verbs in Classical Latin -izare, Classical Greek -izein

ism

noun

Informal

A distinctive doctrine, system, or theory: “Formalism, by being an ‘ism,’ kills form by hugging it to death” (Peter Viereck).

Origin of ism

From –ism.

-ism

suffix

Action; process; practice: terrorism.
Characteristic behavior or quality: heroism.
a. State; condition; quality: pauperism.
b. State or condition resulting from an excess of something specified: strychninism.
Distinctive or characteristic trait: Latinism.
a. Doctrine; theory; system of principles: pacifism.
b. An attitude of prejudice against a given group: racism.

Origin of -ism

Middle English -isme, from Old French, from Latin -ismus, from Greek -ismos, n. suff.

ism

Noun

(plural isms)

A belief that can be described by a word ending in -ism.
Specifically, a form of discrimination, such as racism or sexism.

Origin

From suffix -ism (“belief”), particularly (in the 19th century) in the sense of “social movement”. Compare phobia, from -phobia, sophy, from -sophy, itis, from -itis, and ana, from -ana.