-ism

-ism

suff.

1. Action; process; practice: terrorism.

2. Characteristic behavior or quality: heroism.

3.

a. State; condition; quality: pauperism.

b. State or condition resulting from an excess of something specified: strychninism.

4. Distinctive or characteristic trait: Latinism.

5.

a. Doctrine; theory; system of principles: pacifism.

b. An attitude of prejudice against a given group: racism.

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[Middle English -isme, from Old French, from Latin -ismus, from Greek -ismos, n. suff.]

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-ism

suffix

1. indicating a political or religious belief: socialism, Judaism

2. indicating a characteristic quality: heroism

3. indicating an action: exorcism

4. indicating prejudice on the basis specified: sexism