Home British & World English -ism

Definition of -ism in English:

-ism

suffix

  • 1Forming nouns denoting an action or its result.

    ‘baptism’
    ‘exorcism’
    1. 1.1Forming nouns denoting a state or quality.
      ‘barbarism’

  • 2Forming nouns denoting a system, principle, or ideological movement.

    • ‘Anglicanism’
    • ‘feminism’
    • ‘hedonism’
    1. 2.1Forming nouns denoting a basis for prejudice or discrimination.
      ‘racism’

  • 3Forming nouns denoting a peculiarity in language.

    ‘colloquialism’
    ‘Americanism’

  • 4Forming nouns denoting a pathological condition.

    ‘alcoholism’

Origin

From French -isme, via Latin from Greek -ismos, -isma.

Pronunciation

-ism

/ɪz(ə)m/