pacifism

[ pas-uh-fiz-uh m ]
/ ˈpæs əˌfɪz əm /

noun

opposition to war or violence of any kind.
refusal to engage in military activity because of one's principles or beliefs.
the principle or policy that all differences among nations should be adjusted without recourse to war.
Also pa·cif·i·cism [puh-sif-uh-siz-uh m] /pəˈsɪf əˌsɪz əm/.

Origin of pacifism

1905–10; < pacifisme. See pacific, -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM pacifism

an·ti·pac·i·fism, noun pro·pac·i·fism, noun

Words nearby pacifism

pacifically, pacificate, pacification, pacifico, pacifier, pacifism, pacifist, pacifistic, pacify, pacing catheter, pacini

Example sentences from the Web for pacificism

  • I don't believe in pacificism much, myself, but she used it very niftily for her argument.

    Ramsey Milholland |Booth Tarkington

  • Our own conversion to pacificism, though sincere, is somewhat recent.

    Outspoken Essays |William Ralph Inge

British Dictionary definitions for pacificism

pacifism
/ (ˈpæsɪˌfɪzəm) /

noun

the belief that violence of any kind is unjustifiable and that one should not participate in war
the belief that international disputes can be settled by arbitration rather than war

Cultural definitions for pacificism

pacifism

The view that war is morally unacceptable and never justified (see conscientious objector). The term is sometimes applied to the belief that international disputes should be settled peacefully.