The Collaborative Dictionary

Schism \Schism\, n. [OE. scisme, OF. cisme, scisme, F. schisme, L. schisma, Gr. schi`sma, fr. schi`zein to split; akin to L. scindere, Skr. chid, and prob. to E. shed, v.t. (which see); cf. Rescind, Schedule, Zest.] Division or separation; specifically (Eccl.), permanent division or separation in the Christian church; breach of unity among people of the same religious faith; the offense of seeking to produce division in a church without justifiable cause. [1913 Webster] Set bounds to our passions by reason, to our errors by truth, and to our schisms by charity. --Eikon Basilike. [1913 Webster] Greek schism (Eccl.), the separation of the Greek and Roman churches. Great schism, or Western schism (Eccl.) a schism in the Roman church in the latter part of the 14th century, on account of rival claimants to the papal throne. Schism act (Law), an act of the English Parliament requiring all teachers to conform to the Established Church, -- passed in 1714, repealed in

[1913 Webster]

Word Net

schism n : division of a group into opposing factions; "another schism like that and they will wind up in bankruptcy" [syn: split]

Moby Thesaurus

affiliation, alienation, apostasy, betrayal, body, bolt, branch, breach, breach of friendship, break, breakaway, chasm, church, cleavage, cleft, communion, community, defection, denomination, dereliction, deserter, desertion, disaffection, disfavor, disruption, dissent, dissidence, disunion, disunity, divergence, dividedness, division, estrangement, faction, falling-out, fellowship, fissure, fracture, group, heterodoxy, misbelief, nonconformism, nonconformity, offshoot, open rupture, order, organization, party, persuasion, ratting, recall of ambassadors, religious order, rent, rift, rupture, school, secession, sect, sectarism, segment, separation, society, split, unorthodoxy, variety, version, walkout

English

Etymology

From (schisma) "division" < (schizō) "I split"

Pronunciation

• /ˈskɪzəm/ or /ˈsɪzəm/

Noun

1. A split or separation within a group or organization, typically caused by discord.
2. A formal division or split within a religious body.
3. In the context of "Catholicism": a split within Christianity whereby a group no longer recognizes the Bishop of Rome as the head of the Church, but shares essentially the same beliefs with the Church of Rome. In other words, a political split without the introduction of heresy.

Synonyms

• italbrac split or separation: division, separation, split

Antonyms

• : unity

Related terms

• schismatic

Translations