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)
Synonyms of schism
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

Synonyms of schism

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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.
Yet, a deep ideological schism remains over what victory for the Islamic Republic should look like. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 This turns into a big argument about Issa being a weird little guy, and suddenly there are multiple potential roommate schisms in the house. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 Eventually, the conservatives succeeded; the denomination finally divided in a schism in 2024, with more than seventy-six hundred congregations leaving to join a conservative Global Methodist Church. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 Yet since she was rescued in bad shape in mid-July and transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center for treatment, schisms have formed. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for schism

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Browse Nearby Words

-schisis
schism
schisma
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Cite this Entry

“Schism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schism. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

schism

noun
ˈsiz-əm How to pronounce schism (audio) ˈskiz- How to pronounce schism (audio)
1
a
: division sense 6, separation
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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about schism

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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