schism

noun

ˈsi-zəm How to pronounce schism (audio) ˈski- How to pronounce schism (audio)
 also  ˈshi-;
among clergy usually
ˈsi- How to pronounce schism (audio)
1
: division, separation
also : discord, disharmony
a schism between political parties
2
a
: formal division in or separation from a church or religious body
b
: the offense of promoting schism

Examples of schism in a Sentence

a schism between leading members of the party The church was divided by schism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Trump’s return to power has also laid bare a schism between the Left and the more pragmatic party leadership. David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2025 Of course, there is now a clear schism among the major firms Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale are fighting. Niall Stanage, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2025 Charles is slated to visit the Papal Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls − a site English kings had a particular link to before the schism from Rome. USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025 The schism between the union’s leaders and members dates at least to Feb. 17, when corrections officers at two prisons declared a strike that was not authorized by their union. Christopher Maag, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for schism

Word History

Etymology

Middle English scisme, sisme, cisme "division in the church, dissension in belief, civil strife," borrowed from Anglo-French scisme, borrowed from Late Latin scisma, schisma "division of opinion, dissension in the church," borrowed from Greek schismat-, schísma "cleft, division, (New Testament) division of opinion," from schid-, stem of schízein "to split, separate" + -smat-, -sma, resultative noun suffix — more at shed entry 1

Note: As the spellings suggest, the Middle English and early Modern English pronunciation of this word was with initial [s] rather than [sk]. Hellenized spellings with initial sch- became general in the seventeenth century, though the old pronunciation with initial [s] has persisted until recently.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of schism was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Schism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schism. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

schism

noun
1
b
: lack of harmony : discord
2
a
: division in or separation from a church or religious body
b
: the offense of promoting schism

More from Merriam-Webster on schism

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