Islamism

noun

Is·​lam·​ism is-ˈlä-ˌmi-zəm How to pronounce Islamism (audio)
iz-,
-ˈla-;
ˈiz-lə-
1
: the faith, doctrine, or cause of Islam
2
: a popular reform movement advocating the reordering of government and society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam
Islamist
is-ˈlä-mist How to pronounce Islamism (audio)
iz-
-ˈla-;
ˈiz-lə-
noun

Examples of Islamism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pro-government preachers across the country have suddenly begun blending iconic, pre-revolutionary patriotic songs into Shiite religious rituals—a mix of nationalism and Islamism that the regime historically avoided but now appears eager to embrace. Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025 Most of them have no interest in Islamism or any other ideology. Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025 The Jewish activist told Fox News Digital that the two discussed Islamism in the West, something David was addressing on a panel at the conference. Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2025 Rich and once powerful democracies are weakened in climates favoring Islamism. Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025 Conservative Christians have flooded social media with support for Cardinal Robert Sarah to succeed the late Pope Francis because of his strong traditionalist stands on sexuality and church doctrine as well as his opposition to mass immigration and Islamism. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025 Now, foreign countries are trying to steer Syria’s new de facto leaders toward an inclusive government free of sectarian reprisals and away from extreme forms of Islamism. Nafees Hamid, Foreign Affairs, 31 Jan. 2025 Sisi's Egypt was also seen as a bulwark against Islamism, as the Egyptian leader had ousted and imprisoned the Muslim Brotherhood. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025 But sometimes, as in the New Orleans attack, the driving ideology is radical Islamism. Adiel Kaplan, NBC News, 4 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Islamism was in 1747

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Cite this Entry

“Islamism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Islamism. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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