chasm

noun

ˈka-zəm 

1

: a deep cleft in the surface of a planet (such as the earth) : gorge

built a bridge over the chasm

2

: a marked division, separation, or difference

the chasm between the rich and the poor

Synonyms of chasm

• abyss
• ocean

Examples of chasm in a Sentence

a chasm in the ocean floor

Recent Examples on the Web

Only 9% of workers trust AI for complex, business-critical decisions, compared to 61% of executives — a 52-point trust chasm. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026

For a teen star like King, the chasm that Malone once had to hurdle between the Petersburg High School varsity team and professional basketball has been replaced by something more like a tricky but continuous series of conveyor belts. —Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026

As federal political priorities shift towards deregulation and massive funding cuts — like the recent $600 million reduction for California and three other states — the gap between the health-haves and have-nots is becoming a chasm. —Markos Kounalakis, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile, Malcolm tries desperately to keep his own family at a distance, a great, chasm-size distance. —Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin chasma, from Greek; akin to Latin hiare to yawn — more at yawn

First Known Use

circa 1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chasm

• bronchospasm
• cytoplasm
• ectoplasm
• neoplasm
• protoplasm
• vasospasm
• chiasm
• germplasm
• phantasm
• sarcasm
• enthusiasm
• iconoclasm

Kids Definition

chasm

noun

ˈkaz-əm 

: a deep split or gap in the earth