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schism

SIZ-um /ˈsɪzəm/

nounC2GRESATUPSC

formalhistoricalreligious

A split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.

Schism is most commonly used in religious, political, or organizational contexts. It refers to a formal split where one group breaks away from the parent organization to form a new, separate entity.

The story behind the word. Schism comes from an ancient Greek word meaning 'to split.' It shares a root with 'schizophrenia' (literally, a split mind) and 'scissors' (tools used for cutting and splitting).

Word relationships

split: Split is a general term for any division, while schism specifically implies a formal, ideological division within an organization.
faction: A faction is a small dissenting group within a larger one, whereas a schism is the actual act of splitting into separate groups.

union: Union is the state of being joined or united as a whole.
reconciliation: Reconciliation is the restoration of friendly relations after a split or argument.

Commonly confused with

chasm: A chasm is a deep physical gorge or a massive metaphorical gap, while a schism is a formal split or division within a group.

Word family

schismatic (adjective): Characterized by or favoring schism.

Collocations

cause a schism
heal a schism
deep schism
religious schism

Example sentences

"The Great Schism of 1054 divided the Christian church into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic branches." A historical reference to the division of the Christian church.

Memory hook

Think of 'schism' as 'scissors'—cutting a group into two separate pieces. Schism is a split caused by scissors of disagreement.

When not to use

Do not use schism for minor personal arguments or physical cracks in objects. Use 'rift' or 'split' for those.

Fun facts

The spelling of 'schism' has a silent 'ch' in English, making it pronounced like 'siz-um,' though some dictionaries now accept 'skiz-um' due to common usage.