Ism Definition

ĭzəm
-isms
noun
-isms
A doctrine, theory, system, etc., esp. one whose name ends in -ism.
Webster's New World
A belief that can be described by a word ending in -ism.
Wiktionary

Specifically, a form of discrimination, such as racism or sexism.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
suffix
Action; process; practice.
Terrorism.
American Heritage
Characteristic behavior or quality.
Heroism.
American Heritage
State; condition; quality.
Pauperism.
American Heritage
State or condition resulting from an excess of something specified.
Strychninism.
American Heritage
Distinctive or characteristic trait.
Latinism.
American Heritage
affix
The act, practice, or result of.
Terrorism.
Webster's New World
The condition or state of being.
Pauperism.
Webster's New World
Action, conduct, or qualities characteristic of.
Patriotism.
Webster's New World
The doctrine, school, theory, or principle of.
Cubism, socialism.
Webster's New World
Devotion to.
Nationalism.
Webster's New World
abbreviation
Abbreviation of Imperial Service Medal.
Wiktionary
Abbreviation of Institute for Supply Management.
Wiktionary
(astronomy) Abbreviation of interstellar medium.
Wiktionary
(sciences, medicine) Initialism of Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine.
Wiktionary
(religion) Initialism of Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Ism

Noun

Singular:
ism
Plural:
isms

Origin of Ism

  • From 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.

    From Wiktionary

  • ME -isme < OFr & L -isma (< Gr) & -ismus (< Gr -ismos): orig. suffix of action or of state, forming nouns from verbs in L -izare, Gr -izein

    From Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Edition

  • Middle English -isme from Old French from Latin -ismus from Greek -ismos n. suff.

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From –ism

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to ism using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

ism