catechism
noun
cat·e·chism
ˈka-tə-ˌki-zəm 
1
: oral instruction
2
: a manual for catechizing (see catechize sense 1)
specifically
: a summary of religious doctrine often in the form of questions and answers
3
a
: a set of formal questions put as a test
b
: something resembling a catechism especially in being a rote response or formulaic statement
The cook often consulted the latest nutritional catechism for advice.
Examples of catechism in a Sentence
They went to school to learn their catechism.
He taught catechism at Sunday school.
Recent Examples on the Web
With both courtesies and catastrophes refusing to conform, the canton’s school board, publishers, and clergy were forced to produce multiple editions of primers, textbooks, and catechisms; sometimes five parallel print runs were needed for a population the size of a town.
—
Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
The opposition’s mainstream leaders still mouth the catechism that change should come by Venezuelan hands, but more are openly courting external pressure to tilt the balance.
—Robert Muggah, The Conversation, 31 Oct. 2025
The church will host a catechism retreat from 6-8:30 p.m. on October 23.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Alongside that, President Donald Trump has made a bold effort to topple the rule of left-wing ideologues and the woke catechism of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) over American education, which tolerated and encouraged the surge of antisemitism since Oct. 7, 2023.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catechism
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Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
The opposition’s mainstream leaders still mouth the catechism that change should come by Venezuelan hands, but more are openly courting external pressure to tilt the balance.
—Robert Muggah, The Conversation, 31 Oct. 2025
The church will host a catechism retreat from 6-8:30 p.m. on October 23.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Alongside that, President Donald Trump has made a bold effort to topple the rule of left-wing ideologues and the woke catechism of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) over American education, which tolerated and encouraged the surge of antisemitism since Oct. 7, 2023.
—Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for catechism
Cite this Entry
“Catechism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catechism. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
catechism
noun
cat·e·chism
ˈkat-ə-ˌkiz-əm
1
: a summary of religious doctrine in the form of questions and answers
2
: a set of questions requiring memorized answers put as a test
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