ism

An ideology, system of thought, or practice that can be described by a word ending in -ism.

Noun

  1. An ideology, system of thought, or practice that can be described by a word ending in -ism.
    • […] his religion, his worship was like his daily bread to him; — which he did not take the trouble to talk much about; which he merely ate at stated intervals, and lived and did his work upon! This is Abbot Samson’s...
    • If it gives way to sentimentalism, or sensibility, or political mysticism, or adopts an affectation of radicalism, or any other ism, or molds its institutions so as to round out to a more complete fulfillment somebody's...
    • An ism does not have to possess the fearful implements of state power to cut off a deviant or heretical member. - 1965, Bertram David Wolfe, Marxism, One Hundred Years in the Life of a Doctrine, page 357:

    Synonyms: whateverism

    1. A form of discrimination, such as racism or sexism.

      • Parents and educators play a critical role in helping children of all ages navigate current events and talk openly about the historical roots of the various ‘isms in our country. - 2020 June 6, Lisa Selin Davis,...

      Synonyms: whateverism

Origin

From the suffix -ism (“belief”), particularly (in the 19th century) in the sense of "social movement". Compare phobia, from -phobia, sophy, from -sophy, itis, from -itis, and ana, from -ana.

Forms

isms

Related

ideology ist philosophy wasm

Derived

isms and schisms