rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryismBelief system or attitude
noun

ism

IZ-um/ˈɪzəm/

A distinctive system of beliefs or characteristic attitude.

They discuss the principles of a particular philosophical ism.

Two older women study and discuss a shared philosophical system, referring to one open book whose simple connected pictograms suggest a coherent set of principles rather than unrelated opinions.
Etymology
ismGreekpractice or teaching

An ending used to name practices and teachings became a word in its own right. Calling a doctrine an “ism” was chiefly disparaging, treating it as just another system.

More examples

  • The essay examines the political isms of the period.
  • She refused to reduce her views to a single ism.
  • The debate moved from one competing ism to another.

Forms

ism · isms

Similar words

doctrine
Doctrine is an organized teaching; ism informally labels a distinctive belief system or attitude.
ideology
Ideology is a system of ideas; ism can be a shorthand, sometimes dismissive, for such systems.