ism
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ism
(ĭz′əm)n. Informal
A distinctive doctrine, system, or theory: "Formalism, by being an 'ism,' kills form by hugging it to death" (Peter Viereck).
[From -ism.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ism
(ˈɪzəm)n
informal often derogatory an unspecified doctrine, system, or practice
ISM
abbreviation for
(Astronomy) interstellar medium
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ism
(ˈɪz əm)n.
a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice: capitalism, socialism, and other isms.
[< -ism]
-ism
a suffix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it was used to form action nouns from verbs (baptism); on this model, used as a productive suffix in the formation of nouns denoting action or practice, state or condition, principles, doctrines, a usage or characteristic, devotion or adherence, etc.: Darwinism; despotism; plagiarism; realism; witticism. Compare -ist, -ize.
[< Greek -ismos, -isma]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. |  ism - a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or schoolnuclear deterrence - the military doctrine that an enemy will be deterred from using nuclear weapons as long as he can be destroyed as a consequence; "when two nations both resort to nuclear deterrence the consequence could be mutual destruction" belief - any cognitive content held as true abolitionism - the doctrine that calls for the abolition of slavery absolutism - the doctrine of an absolute being amoralism - the doctrine that moral distinctions are invalid animalism - the doctrine that human beings are purely animal in nature and lacking a spiritual nature animism - the doctrine that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls; "animism is common among primitive peoples" antiestablishmentarianism, antiestablishmentism - the doctrine of opposition to the social and political establishment asceticism - the doctrine that through renunciation of worldly pleasures it is possible to achieve a high spiritual or intellectual state contextualism - any doctrine emphasizing the importance of the context in solving problems or establishing the meaning of terms creationism - the literal belief in the account of Creation given in the Book of Genesis; "creationism denies the theory of evolution of species" divine right, divine right of kings - the doctrine that kings derive their right to rule directly from God and are not accountable to their subjects; rebellion is the worst of political crimes; "the doctrine of the divine right of kings was enunciated by the Stuarts in Britain in the 16th century" dogma - a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative; "he believed all the Marxist dogma" dualism - the doctrine that reality consists of two basic opposing elements, often taken to be mind and matter (or mind and body), or good and evil dynamism - any of the various theories or doctrines or philosophical systems that attempt to explain the phenomena of the universe in terms of some immanent force or energy epicureanism - a doctrine of hedonism that was defended by several ancient Greek philosophers establishmentarianism, establishmentism - the doctrine of supporting the social or political establishment ethicism - a doctrine that ethics and ethical ideas are valid and important; "his ethicism often led him to moralize" expansionism - the doctrine of expanding the territory or the economic influence of a country formalism - the doctrine that formal structure rather than content is what should be represented functionalism - any doctrine that stresses utility or purpose Girondism - the doctrine of the Girondists gospel - a doctrine that is believed to be of great importance; "Newton's writings were gospel for those who followed" gymnosophy - the doctrine of a sect of Hindu philosophers who practiced nudity and asceticism and meditation imitation - the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations laissez faire, individualism - the doctrine that government should not interfere in commercial affairs internationalism - the doctrine that nations should cooperate because their common interests are more important than their differences unilateralism - the doctrine that nations should conduct their foreign affairs individualistically without the advice or involvement of other nations irredentism, irridentism - the doctrine that irredenta should be controlled by the country to which they are ethnically or historically related literalism - the doctrine of realistic (literal) portrayal in art or literature majority rule, democracy - the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group monism - the doctrine that reality consists of a single basic substance or element multiculturalism - the doctrine that several different cultures (rather than one national culture) can coexist peacefully and equitably in a single country nationalism - the doctrine that your national culture and interests are superior to any other nationalism - the doctrine that nations should act independently (rather than collectively) to attain their goals nihilism - a revolutionary doctrine that advocates destruction of the social system for its own sake pluralism - the doctrine that reality consists of several basic substances or elements populism - the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite presentism - the doctrine that the Scripture prophecies of the Apocalypse (as in the Book of Revelations) are presently in the course of being fulfilled freethinking, rationalism - the doctrine that reason is the right basis for regulating conduct |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007