schism

noun

ˈsi-zəm  ˈski- 

 also  ˈshi-;

among clergy usually

ˈsi- 

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

• conflict
• disaccord
• discord
• discordance
• discordancy
• disharmony
• dissension
• dissention
• dissent
• dissidence
• dissonance
• disunion
• disunity
• division
• friction
• infighting
• inharmony
• strife
• variance
• war
• warfare

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

To me, this demonstrates the schism between the classic Republican—which is the Brooks Brothers, free-trade, globalist, Reaganite Republican—and the new Republican, which is populist. —Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 21 Jan. 2025

And how did the family schism widen to the point that Amy is now accusing Clayton and Kathryn of once plotting their father’s murder, in one of multiple lawsuits Amy has been involved in following Carmen’s death? —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2025

In the nineteenth century, a schism between the industrial North and the agrarian, slaveholding South culminated in the Civil War. —Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025

Never mind the 25-year prison stint, the schism with his boss back home, or his upcoming trial: The man simply can’t stop smiling. —Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2024

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

Kids Definition

schism

noun

ˈsiz-əm  ˈskiz- 

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