-ism is used to form uncount nouns that refer to political or religious movements and beliefs.
Gere became interested in Buddhism in the 1970s.
...a time of growing Slovak nationalism.
2. suffix
-ism is used to form uncount nouns that refer to attitudes and behaviour.
...an act of heroism.
He didn't hide his pacifism.
3. suffix
-ism is used to form uncount nouns that refer to unfair or hostile treatment of a particular group of people.
...discrimination based on racism, sexism and disability.
ism in British English
(ˈɪzəm)
noun
informal, often derogatory
an unspecified doctrine, system, or practice
ISM in British English
abbreviation for
interstellar medium
interstellar medium in British English
noun
the matter occurring between the stars of our Galaxy, largely in the spiral arms, and consisting mainly of huge clouds of ionized, neutral, or molecular hydrogen
Abbreviation: ISM
-ism in British English
suffix forming nouns
1.
indicating an action, process, or result
criticism
terrorism
2.
indicating a state or condition
paganism
3.
indicating a doctrine, system, or body of principles and practices
Leninism
spiritualism
4.
indicating behaviour or a characteristic quality
heroism
5.
indicating a characteristic usage, esp of a language
colloquialism
Scotticism
6.
indicating prejudice on the basis specified
sexism
ageism
Word origin
from Old French -isme, from Latin -ismus, from Greek -ismos
ism in American English
(ˈɪzəm)
noun
a doctrine, theory, system, etc., esp. one whose name ends in -ism
Word origin
< -ism
-ism in American English
(ˈɪzəm)
1.
the act, practice, or result of
terrorism
2.
the condition of being
pauperism
3.
action, conduct, or qualities characteristic of
patriotism
4.
the doctrine, school, theory, or principle of
cubism, socialism
5.
devotion to
nationalism
6.
an instance, example, or peculiarity of
Gallicism, witticism
7.
an abnormal condition caused by
alcoholism
8.
belief, attitudes, actions, or conduct characterized by prejudice or bigotry related to
ageism, classism, sexism
Word origin
ME -isme < OFr & L -isma (< Gr) & -ismus (< Gr -ismos): orig. suffix of action or of state, forming nouns from verbs in L -izare, Gr -izein
Examples of 'ism' in a sentence
ism
Would she live to a time when she could see clearly which ` ism " history had backed?