ism
noun
a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice.
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ism
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-ism
-isma 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 ).
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ISM
ISMabbreviationinterstellar medium
ism
1 American
[iz-uhm]
/ ˈɪz əm /
noun
-ism
2
American
-ism
1
British
suffix
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indicating an action, process, or result
criticism
terrorism
-
indicating a state or condition
paganism
-
indicating a doctrine, system, or body of principles and practices
Leninism
spiritualism
-
indicating behaviour or a characteristic quality
heroism
-
indicating a characteristic usage, esp of a language
colloquialism
Scotticism
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indicating prejudice on the basis specified
sexism
ageism
ISM
2
British
abbreviation
ism
3
British
/ ˈɪzəm /
noun
Etymology
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 )
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.
We said, of course, yes, and brought the local publisher -ism into the mix to print the limited-edition zines that will be distributed at Halsey’s Frieze booth this week.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025
It doesn’t seem like one -ism or -ation is entirely to blame, like globalism or immigration, capitalism or inflation.
From Slate • Oct. 12, 2024
"We have one more -ism in our history: Stalinism," says Andrei Kolesnikov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Eurasia Russia Centre.
From BBC • May 6, 2024
Lemon's -ism appears have taproots into the frontal cortex of his cerebrum, entangled in a way that may be impossible for any amount of "formal training" to overcome.
From Salon • Feb. 24, 2023
In the majority of cases the English suffix -ism and the Esperanto suffix -ism coincide, thus: komunismo = communism, vegetarismo = vegetarianism.
From The International Auxiliary Language Esperanto Grammar and Commentary by Cox, George
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.
