Pronunciation: [ˈɪzəm] (IPA) 
The word "ism" is spelled with an "i" and an "s" followed by the letter "m". The IPA phonetic transcription for "ism" is /ɪz(ə)m/. The letter "i" is pronounced as /ɪ/ which makes a short "i" sound. The letters "s" and "m" represent consonant sounds /z/ and /m/ respectively. The word can be used as a suffix to indicate a specific belief, philosophy or practice. Common examples include capitalism, socialism, and feminism.
Ism is a noun commonly used to denote a distinct belief system, ideology, or principle that is typically associated with a particular social, political, or philosophical movement. It usually represents a specific set of ideas, theories, or doctrines that guide individuals or groups in their understanding of the world and their behavior within it.
Characterized by its suffix "-ism," this term is generally used to label and identify a particular intellectual or ideological framework. Often, an "ism" seeks to explain, interpret, or offer solutions to complex issues or phenomena. It can encompass a wide range of subjects, such as politics (e.g., socialism, liberalism), religion (e.g., Buddhism, Hinduism), art (e.g., surrealism, cubism), or even social behaviors (e.g., racism, feminism).
Ism can also describe a tendency or inclination towards a specific belief or behavior. It may be used to identify an individual's devotion, adherence, or support for a certain idea or movement, as in "activism" or "environmentalism."
The term "ism" is often neutral, comprising both positive and negative connotations depending on the context and individual perspectives. While it can contribute to the formation of powerful social movements, it can also be associated with narrow-mindedness, extremism, or dogmatism. Nevertheless, the impact of various "isms" on societies throughout history underscores their influence in shaping people's opinions, actions, and cultural development.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "ism" has its roots in the Greek language. It is derived from the Greek suffix "-ismos", which was itself derived from the verb "-izein". In Greek, the suffix "-ismos" was used to form nouns from verbs, indicating the ideology, practice, or characteristic associated with the verb.
The suffix "-ismos" was also borrowed by the Latin language, where it became "-ismus". Eventually, it made its way into Old French and Middle English, evolving into "isme" and later "ism".
The word "ism" entered the English language in the 17th century, primarily through philosophical and religious contexts. It gradually expanded to encompass a broader range of meanings, including political, social, and artistic movements or beliefs. Today, it is used to denote a particular doctrine, theory, or system of beliefs often associated with a particular ideology, philosophy, or school of thought.
