ism

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points: 5
Words With Friends: 6
Letters: 3

Pronunciation

/ˈɪz.əm/

Definition of ism

6 senses · 2 parts of speech · etymology included

noun

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 Catholicism of the Twelfth Century; — something like the Ism of all true men in all true centuries, I fancy! Alas, compared with any of the Isms current in these poor days, what a thing!”
“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 theory of the universe, it may fall into an era of revolution and political insecurity […]”
“An ism does not have to possess the fearful implements of state power to cut off a deviant or heretical member.”
“In his exposition, he has failed to achieve the identification of situation, theory, and policy necessary to create an ism.”
“Isms in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an ism – he should believe in himself.”

See all 6 definitions

noun

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 Catholicism of the Twelfth Century; — something like the Ism of all true men in all true centuries, I fancy! Alas, compared with any of the Isms current in these poor days, what a thing!”
“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 theory of the universe, it may fall into an era of revolution and political insecurity […]”
“An ism does not have to possess the fearful implements of state power to cut off a deviant or heretical member.”
“In his exposition, he has failed to achieve the identification of situation, theory, and policy necessary to create an ism.”
“Isms in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an ism – he should believe in himself.”
An ideology, system of thought, or practice that can be described by a word ending in -ism.

“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.”
(abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Imperial Service Medal.
(abbreviation, alt-of)Abbreviation of interstellar medium.
(abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of industrial scientific medical.

name

(abbreviation, alt-of, initialism)Initialism of Institute for Supply Management.

“The ISM report came as another worrying sign following last month's surprisingly low number, which ended a 34-month growth streak.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

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.