Added 9 October 2026
schism
/ˈskɪzəm/ noun
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about schism at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Division of a group into opposing factions.
another schism like that and they will wind up in bankruptcy
- The formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)