Pharisaism

[ far-uh-sey-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. the principles and practices of the Pharisees.
2. (lowercase) rigid observance of external forms of religion or conduct without genuine piety; hypocrisy.

Pharisaism

/ ˈfærɪsiːˌɪzəm; ˈfærɪseɪˌɪzəm /

noun

1. Judaism the tenets and customs of the Pharisees
2. often not capital observance of the external forms of religion without genuine belief; hypocrisy

Other Words From

• Phari·sa·ist adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pharisaism¹

From the New Latin word Pharisaismus, dating back to 1595–1605. See Pharisaic, -ism

Example Sentences

His smirking and somewhat subversive accommodation to this Pharisaism is to emphasize the ways in which Black English is more complex than Standard English.

From The New Yorker

“Cruz’s behavior in the Haley case is almost the dictionary definition of pharisaism,” Brooks writes, “an overzealous application of the letter of the law in a way that violates the spirit of the law, as well as fairness and mercy.”

From Salon

So why do so many people see only judgmentalism and rejection, even pharisaism?

From The Guardian

There was no latent or acquired taint of Pharisaism in his nature.

From Project Gutenberg

Everywhere in English society there is a quite unconscious, naive sort of Pharisaism, the unavowed but actual principle of which is that it matters very little if a man does the wrong thing, provided he publicly acts and says the right thing.

From Project Gutenberg