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schism

UK/ˈskɪzəm/US/ˈskɪzəm/
nounC2Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #14,558 of 15,258mostly written

Other forms: schisms

A schism is a deep split that divides a church or a party. The Great Schism, cause a schism, a schism in the movement.

The Great Schism of 1054 divided the eastern and western churches and has not been healed. It is said with a k or an s at the front, and both are accepted, which is unusual.

Definitions of schism

  1. 1nounschismA deep split that divides a church or a party.C2

    “A bitter schism over the new leader split the party into two groups.”

schism is a split.

Where it comes from

Greek schisma means a division, from schizein, to split.

  1. Proto-Indo-European

    *skeyd-

  2. Ancient Greek

    σχίσμα — division

  3. Old French

    cisme

  4. Middle English

    scisme

  5. English, today

    schism

Built from

  • σχίζω · Ancient Greek — I split

From Middle English scisme, from Old French cisme or scisme, from Ancient Greek σχίσμα (“division”), from σχίζω (“I split”). a doublet of schisma. Compare chasm. This word was historically pronounced (and still is among the clergy); the pronunciations are due to the spelling (the latter may have been reinforced by learned influence); compare schedule.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

schism in the wild

  • Gregory XII wanted to unify the Church and voluntarily resigned in 1415 to end the schism.

    Pope Gregory XII

  • The schism ended in 1417 at the Council of Constance.

    Avignon Papacy

  • The first action that led to a formal schism occurred in 1053 when Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople ordered the closure of all Latin churches in Constantinople.

    East–West Schism

  • The schism was finally resolved when Alexander V's successor as Pisan claimant, John XXIII, called the Council of Constance.

    Western Schism

  • However, schisms frequently involve mutual accusations of heresy.

    Schism

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.