a name, formerly common in Western usage but never used among Muslims, for the Muslim religion; Islam
Islam
Mohammedanism in American English
(moʊˈhæmɪdənˌɪzəm)
noun
Islam
term used, esp. formerly, by non-Muslims
Mohammedanism in American English
(muˈhæmɪdnˌɪzəm, mou-)
noun
Muhammadanism; Islam
Word origin
[mohammedan + -ism]-ism is a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nounsfrom verbs (baptism). On this model, -ism is used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice,state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion oradherence, etc. (criticism; barbarism; Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism; intellectualism)