Pharisaism

American  

[far-uh-sey-iz-uhm] / ˈfær ə seɪˌɪz əm /

Also Phariseeism

noun

1. the principles and practices of the Pharisees.

2. (lowercase) rigid observance of external forms of religion or conduct without genuine piety; hypocrisy.

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Pharisaism British  

/ ˈfærɪsiːˌɪzəm, ˈfærɪseɪˌɪzəm /

noun

1. Judaism the tenets and customs of the Pharisees

2. (often not capital) observance of the external forms of religion without genuine belief; hypocrisy

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Other Word Forms

• Pharisaist adjective

Etymology

Origin of Pharisaism

From the New Latin word Pharisaismus, dating back to 1595–1605. See Pharisaic, -ism

Example Sentences

His smirking and somewhat subversive accommodation to this Pharisaism is to emphasize the ways in which Black English is more complex than Standard English.

From The New Yorker • May 8, 2017

Emphasis on visible authority and external practices had brought the Roman Catholic Church, they thought, to Pharisaism and travesty; they hoped to avoid the same pitfall by stressing an inward spirituality.

From Time Magazine Archive

Moreover the type of doctrine is still less like the Pharisaism of the synagogue than the "philosophy and vain deceit" rebuked by Paul at Coloss�.

From The Making of the New Testament by Bacon, Benjamin Wisner

Yet, as we have said, Tuckerman was far from Pharisaism of any sort, either of the æsthete or nature-lover.

From Penguin Persons & Peppermints by Eaton, Walter Prichard

Her attitude of certainty and conviction in the doctrines which she championed was branded and denounced as "intolerance," "bigotry," "narrow-mindedness," "exclusiveness," "aloofness," "pride," "Pharisaism," etc.

From American Lutheranism Volume 2: The United Lutheran Church (General Synod, General Council, United Synod in the South) by Bente, F. (Friedrich)