ism
[ iz-uh m ]
/ ˈɪz əm /
noun
a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice: This is the age of isms.
Origin of ism
extracted from words with the suffix
-ism
Words nearby ism
islets of langerhans,
islington,
islip,
islomania,
isls.,
ism,
ismael,
ismail pasha,
ismaili,
ismailia,
ismaʿilian
Definition for ism (2 of 2)
-ism
a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nouns from verbs (baptism); on this model, used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice, state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion or adherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism).
Origin of -ism
< Greek
-ismos, -isma noun suffixes, often directly, often through Latin
-ismus, -isma, sometimes through French
-isme, German
-ismus (all ultimately < Gk)
Example sentences from the Web for ism
British Dictionary definitions for ism (1 of 3)
ism
/ (ˈɪzəm) /
noun
informal, often derogatory
an unspecified doctrine, system, or practice
British Dictionary definitions for ism (2 of 3)
ISM
abbreviation for
interstellar medium
British Dictionary definitions for ism (3 of 3)
-ism
suffix forming nouns
indicating an action, process, or result
criticism; terrorism
indicating a state or condition
paganism
indicating a doctrine, system, or body of principles and practices
Leninism; spiritualism
indicating behaviour or a characteristic quality
heroism
indicating a characteristic usage, esp of a language
colloquialism; Scotticism
indicating prejudice on the basis specified
sexism; ageism
Word Origin for -ism
from Old French
-isme, from Latin
-ismus, from Greek
-ismos
Medical definitions for ism
-ism
suff.
Action, process; practice:vegetarianism.
Characteristic behavior or quality:puerilism.
State; condition; quality:senilism.
State or condition resulting from an excess of something specified:strychninism.
Doctrine; theory; system of principles:Darwinism.