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

Examples of ism in a Sentence

Noun

Cubism, Impressionism, and other artistic isms.

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What annoyed me the most, though, was the way the meditation teachers talked, which tended toward New Age–isms in passive voice. — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026

There are so many aspects — of colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, all the isms, and fascism, which is coming back — that avoiding politics would be anti-historical. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

His Reynolds-isms really only work when playing against Branagh, however. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

The curator Lyle Rexer, who has written on the genre’s vexations, points out that most art-world isms—Cubism, Impressionism—were created by artists to describe their working principles. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026

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

Rhymes for ism

• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism
• anticommunism
• antisemitism
• antiterrorism
• bioterrorism
• colloquialism
• colonialism
• consequentialism
• contextualism
• conventionalism

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)