Definition of ISM

ism

Plural: isms

Noun

  • A distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice, often ending in '-ism'.
  • a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
  • An ideology, system of thought, or practice that can be described by a word ending in -ism.
  • 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.

Examples

  • He was a proponent of the ’triple-word-score-at-all-costs’ ISM of Scrabble strategy.

Origin / Etymology

From the suffix -ism (“belief”), 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.

Synonyms

doctrine, philosophical system, philosophy, school of thought, whateverism

Scrabble Score: 5

ism: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
ism: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ism: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 6

ism: valid Words With Friends Word