ism

¹ American  

[iz-uhm] / ˈɪz əm /

noun

1. a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice.

   This is the age of isms.

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-ism ² American  

1. a 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 ¹ British  

suffix

1. indicating an action, process, or result

   criticism

   terrorism

2. indicating a state or condition

   paganism

3. indicating a doctrine, system, or body of principles and practices

   Leninism

   spiritualism

4. indicating behaviour or a characteristic quality

   heroism

5. indicating a characteristic usage, esp of a language

   colloquialism

   Scotticism

6. indicating prejudice on the basis specified

   sexism

   ageism

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ISM ² British  

abbreviation

1. interstellar medium

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ism ³ British  

/ ˈɪzəm /

noun

1. informal an unspecified doctrine, system, or practice

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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

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

Without ever forgetting its origin in American racism, “Pass Over” broadens to include every kind of -ism, including the ultimately unanswerable one of existentialism.

From New York Times

Maggie’s search takes her — smart, determined and still carrying a torch for her ex — into a feverish mash of racism, homophobia, police corruption, Nazi sympathizers and a particularly poisonous form of “America First”-ism.

From Seattle Times

For all of the flack we give America –– in regards to the racism, sexism, classism, colorism and all of the other isms that have spearheaded generations of mass oppression – dreams sometimes do come true.

From Salon

That legitimacy gives the president a firm foundation on which to orchestrate not a self-aggrandizing movement or hazy “isms” but campaigns for employment, infrastructure and an end to COVID-19.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• congregation
• denomination
• faith
• religion
• sect
• society