Protestantism

[ prot-uh-stuhn-tiz-uhm ]

/ ˈprɒt ə stənˌtɪz əm /

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noun

the religion of Protestants.

the Protestant churches collectively.

adherence to Protestant principles.

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Origin of Protestantism

First recorded in 1640–50; Protestant + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM Protestantism

an·ti-Prot·es·tant·ism, nounpro-Prot·es·tant·ism, noun

Words nearby Protestantism

protest, Protestant, Protestant Episcopal Church, Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, Protestant ethic, Protestantism, Protestantize, Protestant Reformation, Protestant work ethic, protestation, protest flag

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Protestantism in a sentence

Today, liberal Protestantism is on the wane, and optimistic postmillennialism along with it.
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault|Jay Michaelson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Foremost among the currents that sustain it is religion: specifically, evangelical Protestantism.
Red America’s Anti-Gay Backlash|Jonathan Rauch|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The decline of mainline Protestantism has also undermined this sort of prudent, empirically-minded Republicanism.
Sam’s Club Republicans Vs. the Tea Party|Peter Beinart|October 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Protestantism, after all, is the child of the modernity Santorum claims to despise.
Typical: Santorum Totally Misinterprets JFK’s Point|Lee Siegel|February 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The continental powers were again united in a supreme effort to stamp out Protestantism, and England once more stood almost alone.
Is Ulster Right?|Anonymous
Other new words came from the breaking up of Protestantism into different sects.
Stories That Words Tell Us|Elizabeth O'Neill
Albert, religious to an eminent degree, was getting deep into Protestantism.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. III. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
Italy too had its Protestants; but Italy killed them; managed to extinguish Protestantism.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. III. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
The attack of Protestantism was supported by the full power and authority of the conqueror.
Home Rule|Harold Spender

British Dictionary definitions for Protestantism

Protestantism

/ (ˈprɒtɪstənˌtɪzəm) /

noun

the religion or religious system of any of the Churches of Western Christendom that are separated from the Roman Catholic Church and adhere substantially to principles established by Luther, Calvin, etc, in the Reformation

the Protestant Churches collectively

adherence to the principles of the Reformation

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012