pacifism

noun

pac·​i·​fism ˈpa-sə-ˌfi-zəm 

1

: opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes

specifically : refusal to bear arms on moral or religious grounds

For Quakers pacifism is a major tenet of belief.

2

: an attitude or policy of nonresistance

efforts toward pacifism and civil rights

Examples of pacifism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Out of China's shadow A great dream of Shinzo Abe was to convince the people of Japan to abandon unilateral pacifism and restore the country to a position of military strength. —Jeff Kingston, Time, 15 Feb. 2026

The security provided by the United States underwrote Sweden’s pacifism. —Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026

Coretta’s pacifism and support for civil rights led her to join the local chapter of the Progressive Party and attend its national convention in July 1948 as a student delegate. —Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026

Central to the Christian sect’s game plan was its intent to create a utopian-like community in America in which everyone gets treated equally and pacifism receives a warm embrace. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French pacifisme, from pacifique pacific

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pacifism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Kids Definition

pacifism

noun

pac·​i·​fism ˈpas-ə-ˌfiz-əm 

: opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes

pacifist

-fəst 

noun