- -ism
- -ism [ızəm] suffix [in nouns][: French; Origin: -isme, from Latin -isma and -ismus, from Greek -isma and -ismos, from verbs ending in -izein; -IZE]1.) a political belief or religion based on a particular principle or the ideas and beliefs of a particular person▪ socialism▪ Buddhism2.) the action or process of doing something▪ his criticism of my work3.) an action or remark that has a particular quality▪ her witticisms (=funny remarks)4.) the state of being like something or someone, or having a particular quality▪ heroism (=being ahero; bravery)▪ magnetism (=beingmagnetic)5.) illness caused by too much of something▪ alcoholism6.) the practice of treating people unfairly because of something▪ sexism (=making unfair differences between men and women)▪ racism
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.