chasm
Americannoun
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a yawning fissure or deep cleft in the earth's surface; gorge.
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a breach or wide fissure in a wall or other structure.
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a marked interruption of continuity; gap.
a chasm in time.
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a sundering breach in relations, as a divergence of opinions, beliefs, etc., between persons or groups.
noun
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a deep cleft in the ground; abyss
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a break in continuity; gap
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a wide difference in interests, feelings, etc
Other Word Forms
- chasmal adjective
- chasmed adjective
- chasmic adjective
- chasmy adjective
Etymology
Origin of chasm
1590–1600; apocopated variant of chasma < Latin < Greek, equivalent to cha- (root of chaínein to gape; yawn ) + -( a ) sma resultative suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There may be a chasm separating Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s heels from the rears of his dress shoes, but guess what?
From Slate • Mar. 14, 2026
George Russell said he believed a "perfect storm" accounted for the chasm between Mercedes and their rivals in qualifying at the first race of the new Formula 1 season.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026
Creating this chasm of mistrust between patient and provider will have devastating effects on the vaccination rates of children in the U.S. that may take a decade or even a generation to correct.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026
The cub’s selfish decisions lead to the tree laying itself across a chasm to save its surrogate child.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026
Below them, in a shadowy chasm, a stream dashes through a jumble of boulders.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
