ism

Meaning

Noun

• An ideology, system of thought, or practice that can be described by a word ending in -ism.
• A form of discrimination, such as racism or sexism.

Origin

• From the suffix -ism, particularly (in the 19th century) in the sense of "social movement". Compare phobia, from -phobia, sophy, from -sophy, itis, from -itis, and ana, from -ana.