ism

¹

[ iz-uhm ]

noun

1. a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice:

   This is the age of isms.

-ism

²

1. a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nouns from verbs ( baptism ); on this model, used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice, state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion or adherence, etc. ( criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism ).

ism

¹

/ ˈɪzəm /

noun

1. informal.
   an unspecified doctrine, system, or practice

ISM

²

abbreviation for

1. interstellar medium

-ism

³

suffix forming nouns

1. indicating an action, process, or result

   terrorism

   criticism

2. indicating a state or condition

   paganism

3. indicating a doctrine, system, or body of principles and practices

   spiritualism

   Leninism

4. indicating behaviour or a characteristic quality

   heroism

5. indicating a characteristic usage, esp of a language

   Scotticism

   colloquialism

6. indicating prejudice on the basis specified

   sexism

   ageism

Word History and Origins

Origin of ism¹

Extracted from words with the suffix -ism

Origin of ism²

From Greek -ismos, -isma noun suffixes, often directly, often through Latin -ismus, -isma, sometimes through French -isme, German -ismus (all ultimately from Greek )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ism¹

from Old French -isme, from Latin -ismus, from Greek -ismos

Example Sentences

“Isms, in my opinion, are not good. A person should not believe in an ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon: ‘I don’t believe in “Beatles,” I just believe in me.’

From Los Angeles Times

The book, titled “The Theater” after the exhibition, is published and designed by independent publishing house -ism and takes us behind the scenes into a show that aims to bring the background to the forefront.

From Los Angeles Times

In a Federalist Society keynote address two years ago at Arizona’s Waldorf Hotel, Clint Bolick described originalism and federalism — or the division of power between national and local governments — as two of his “favorite isms.”

From Los Angeles Times

He uses observational humor about real-world situations — racism, sexism, all the isms — as a scalpel to carve up the ills that plague us and show us their insides.

From Los Angeles Times

“It is the foundation of all of our ‘isms’: racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, sexism.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• congregation
• denomination
• faith
• religion
• sect
• society