schism

American  

[siz-uhm, skiz-] / ˈsɪz əm, ˈskɪz- /

noun

• schisms
  plural

1. division or disunion, especially into mutually opposed parties.

2. the parties so formed.

3. Ecclesiastical.

   1. a formal division within, or separation from, a church or religious body over some doctrinal difference.

   2. the state of a sect or body formed by such division.

   3. the offense of causing or seeking to cause such a division.

---

schism British  

/ ˈsɪz-, ˈskɪzəm /

noun

1. the division of a group into opposing factions

2. the factions so formed

3. division within or separation from an established Church, esp the Roman Catholic Church, not necessarily involving differences in doctrine

---

schism Cultural  

1. A break within a church, such as the division between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• schismless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• schisms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of schism

1350–1400; < Late Latin (Vulgate) sc ( h ) isma (stem sc ( h ) ismat- ) < Greek, derivative of schízein to split, with -ma (stem -mat- ) noun suffix of result; replacing Middle English ( s ) cisme, sisme < Middle French < Late Latin, as above

Explanation

The sound of the word schism reminds some people of the sound of a piece of paper being torn in two; which makes sense — when a group has a big fight and the group is torn in two, that's a schism. Although the Spanish club could have a schism over taco night versus tamale fest, schism often refers to splits in the church. You might have heard of the Great Schism of 1054, when the eastern Christian church, headquartered in Byzantium (now Istanbul), broke away from the western one headquartered in Rome.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

schism schisms

That schism is more clearly driven by age and education than it is by class.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

His death in battle there in the 7th Century cemented the schism between Shia and Sunnis.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

The Vatican declared a formal schism with the Society of St. Pius X, excommunicating its bishops and priests for consecrating four bishops without papal consent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

As in 1988, the society's future bishops will be consecrated without assigned jurisdiction from Rome, in a situation the group claims precludes any schism or excommunication -- though the Vatican views the matter differently.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

And of all the gods who might help them, the only ones not affected by the Greek-Roman schism seemed to be Aphrodite, Nemesis, and Dionysus.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

It is a long-held tenet of the theater that the most interesting characters, like the most interesting people, are defined by their schisms and paradoxes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

Despite later schisms that split Christianity, the council produced a foundational statement of the faith that is still shared by most of the world’s Christians today.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025

There are schisms on these issues within the U.S. military.

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2025

England's political and religious schisms would lead it to a midcentury civil war.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 6, 2024

Feverishly he followed in periodicals the Dadaist movements and schisms, the strangely feminine jealousies and religiousness, the obscurantisms of the forming and breaking schools.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• alienation
• breakup
• disagreement
• discord
• dissension
• fissure
• rift
• rupture