ism

1 of 2

noun

ˈi-zəm 

1

: a distinctive doctrine, cause, or theory

2

: an oppressive and especially discriminatory attitude or belief

we all have got to come to grips with our isms

—Joycelyn Elders

-ism

2 of 2

noun suffix

1

a

: act : practice : process

criticism

plagiarism

b

: manner of action or behavior characteristic of a (specified) person or thing

animalism

c

: prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a (specified) attribute

racism

sexism

2

a

: state : condition : property

barbarianism

b

: abnormal state or condition resulting from excess of a (specified) thing

alcoholism

or marked by resemblance to (such) a person or thing

giantism

3

a

: doctrine : theory : religion

Buddhism

b

: adherence to a system or a class of principles

stoicism

4

: characteristic or peculiar feature or trait

colloquialism

Example Sentences

Noun

Cubism, Impressionism, and other artistic isms.

ageism, racism, sexism, and all the other familiar isms

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two great feats of dad-ism! —New York Times, 19 Aug. 2021

But the complex permitting process, often plagued by not-in-my-backyard-ism, can take more than a decade, as states where power lines would need to be built but don't necessarily benefit from using or generating the power have little incentive to approve them. —Josh Siegel, Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2020

This is not what-about-ism. —Marilynne Robinson, Harper’s Magazine , 20 July 2022

The complex siting process, oftentimes plagued by not-in-my-backyard-ism, or NIMBYism, can take more than a decade, the report notes, as states where power lines would need to be built but don't necessarily benefit from using or generating the power have little incentive to approve them. —Josh Siegel, Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2020

One of the other great examples of New York tabloid-ism (and there are so many) was when the New York Daily News and New York Post, after a game where Tom Brady complained about the officiating, both put Brady's face on the body of a baby. —Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2023

What- -about-ism is one of the weakest arguments even grade school debaters know about. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2023

But in its tone, format, and subject matter, the Jay Roach–directed HBO film evokes all the patriotic kumbaya-ism of Lin-Manuel Miranda production with none of the fun or artistic payoff. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2020

The Biden administration pleaded safety-ism to excuse its delay in shooting down the balloon. —WSJ, 14 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

-ism

Noun suffix

Middle English -isme, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, partly from Latin -isma (from Greek) & partly from Latin -ismus, from Greek -ismos; Greek -isma & -ismos, from verbs in -izein -ize

First Known Use

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Video

2015 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Peter Sokolowski talks about the year's selections

Kids Definition

ism

1 of 2 noun

ˈiz-əm 

1

: a distinctive belief, cause, or theory

2

: an oppressive and especially discriminatory attitude or belief

-ism

2 of 2 noun suffix

ˌiz-əm

1

a

: act : practice : process

criticism

plagiarism

b

: manner of action or behavior

heroism

2

a

: state : condition : property

skepticism

b

: abnormal state or condition

alcoholism

3

: doctrine : theory : cult

Buddhism

socialism

4

: characteristic or peculiar feature

colloquialism

Etymology

Noun suffix

derived from Greek -isma and Greek -ismos (noun suffixes)