Methodism

American  

[meth-uh-diz-uhm] / ˈmɛθ əˌdɪz əm /

noun

1. the doctrines, polity, beliefs, and methods of worship of the Methodists.

2. (lowercase) the act or practice of working, proceeding, etc., according to some method or system.

3. (lowercase) an excessive use of or preoccupation with methods, systems, or the like.

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Methodism British  

/ ˈmɛθədɪzəm /

noun

1. the system and practices of the Methodist Church, developed by John Wesley and his followers

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Etymology

Origin of Methodism

First recorded in 1730–40; method + -ism

Example Sentences

I’m not saying our way was better, only that it would be substantially more difficult to make “The Da Vinci Code” out of, say, Methodism.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025

Generations of missionary efforts brought Methodism across the world.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 13, 2024

The school is named for Francis Asbury, a circuit-riding preacher who helped Methodism grow from modest beginnings to the largest Christian group in America during the 1800s.

From Washington Post • Feb. 15, 2023

In 1784, John Wesley, the co-founder of Methodism, chartered the first Methodist Church in the United States in Leesburg, Virginia.

From Washington Times • Feb. 28, 2021

Wesley’s Methodism spread like wildfire through England and America because Wesley was shuttling back and forth among hundreds and hundreds of groups, and each group was then taking his message and making it even stickier.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell