Great Schism

American  

noun

1. a period of division in the Roman Catholic Church, 1378–1417, over papal succession, during which there were two, or sometimes three, claimants to the papal office.

---

Great Schism British  

noun

1. the breach between the Eastern and Western churches, usually dated from 1054

2. the division within the Roman Catholic Church from 1378 to 1429, during which rival popes reigned at Rome and Avignon

---

Example Sentences

Sure, go ahead and ask us to believe that John Wick’s lineage stretches back to Beowulf, the Battle of Hastings and the Great Schism.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2025

In recognition, for the first time since the Great Schism of 1054, the Patriarch of Constantinople attended the installation of a new Bishop of Rome.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2025

The Russian Orthodox Church is by far the biggest of the churches in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which split with Western Christianity in the Great Schism of 1054.

From Reuters • Jan. 5, 2023

The Great Schism of 1054 split Christianity between the Western church, loyal to the pope in Rome, and the Eastern church in Constantinople.

From Seattle Times • May 21, 2022

It would have appeared that all the previous developments of Christianity were significant only as preparing for the Great Schism.

From The Gentle Reader by Crothers, Samuel McChord