Schism
[SKIZ-əm]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Greek, late 14th century
1.
A split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.
2.
The formal separation of a church into two churches, or the secession of a group owing to doctrinal and other differences.
Examples of Schism in a sentence
"The argument at Thanksgiving dinner over who makes the best gravy caused a schism in the family, and we planned a gravy tournament for Christmas."
"The pastor gave an interesting lecture on the schism between the branches of the church that divided denominations in the 18th century."
About Schism
“Schism” entered Late Middle English through the Old French word “scisme,” via ecclesiastical Latin from the Greek “skhisma,” meaning “cleft,” or “skhizein,” “to split.”
Did you Know?
Coming from the Greek “skhisma,” meaning “division, cleft,” this word most often references the formal division of churches based upon disagreements of belief — it frequently refers to the Great Schism (1378-1417) in the Western Christian church. However, a more general sense of “disunion, division, separation” is attributed from the early 15th century.
