chasm
Americannoun
-
a yawning fissure or deep cleft in the earth's surface; gorge.
-
a breach or wide fissure in a wall or other structure.
-
a marked interruption of continuity; gap.
a chasm in time.
-
a sundering breach in relations, as a divergence of opinions, beliefs, etc., between persons or groups.
noun
-
a deep cleft in the ground; abyss
-
a break in continuity; gap
-
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
Explanation
A chasm is a deep divide, either literal or figurative, such as a giant chasm in an ice cap or the growing chasm between two friends who haven't spoken in a long time. The first syllable in chasm sounds like cat without the t sound: "CA-zum." It comes from the Greek word khasma, meaning "yawning hollow, gulf" and was originally used to describe a split in a land formation, such as a deep crack caused by an earthquake. The word still retains that sense, but today can also mean "a profound division between people or beliefs," such as a chasm between Republicans and Democrats.
Vocabulary lists containing chasm
The Lightning Thief
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Geological Features
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The City of Ember
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 is just a chasm between the U.S. and Iran.”
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
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
But it was a huge leap, a giant chasm of a leap, to think that one thing had turned into the other.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
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.
