schism
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schism
- /ˈskɪzəm/
- /ˈsɪzəm/
- /ˈʃɪzəm/
Rhymes with -ɪzəm
Where it comes from
From Middle English scisme, from Old French cisme or scisme, from Ancient Greek σχίσμα (skhísma, “division”), from σχίζω (skhízō, “I split”). Doublet of schisma. Compare chasm.
This word was historically pronounced /ˈsɪzəm/ (and still is among the clergy); the pronunciations /ˈʃɪzəm/, /ˈskɪzəm/ are due to the spelling (the latter may have been reinforced by learned influence); compare schedule.
noun schisms
-
A split or separation within a group or organization, typically caused by discord.
A schism broke the organization into two rivals.
Similar: division, separation, split
- A movement or organization that splits off from a larger body. He founded a schism that eventually rivaled the original organization in size.
- A formal division or split within a religious body. The schism between Sunnis and Shias happened quite early in Islamic history.
- A split within Christianity whereby a group is no longer in communion with the Church or its ecclesiastical authorities, but shares essentially the same beliefs; in other words, a political split without the introduction of heresy.
Opposite: unity
verb schisms · schisming · schismed
- To split, divide (a group or organization). “This is going to schism Maga terribly online,” Kirk said. “You're going to see—I don't want to say a Maga civil war, but it's going to be a Maga online food fight that is going to be very hard to navigate.”
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: split, divisiveness, divided, divide, division, separation, cutoff, dichotomy, break-up, splitting, secession, rent, rupture, splintering, cut-off, gap
noun
Opposite: unity
Translations
Every language
noun split, division, separation, discord
| Español | cisma |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 分裂 fēnliè |
| हिन्दी | दरार darār |
| Português | cisão, desmembramento |
| Français | schisme |
| Deutsch | Zerwürfnis, Spaltung, Schisma |
| Italiano | scisma |
| Ελληνικά | σχίσμα schísma |
| Română | schismă |
| Русский | раско́л raskól |
| Tiếng Việt | xích mích, mâu thuẫn |
| العربية | اِنْقِسَام inqisām, اِنْفِصَال infiṣāl, اِنْشِقَاق inšiqāq |
| עברית | פילוג pilúg, פיצול pitsúl |
Talk about this word "schism." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/schism. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. schism. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/schism "schism." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/schism.Cite this
@misc{schism_2026,
title = {schism},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/schism},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
