schism
UK: ˈskɪzəm | US: ˈskɪzəm
n. a division or disunion, especially within a religious group or organization
n. a formal split or separation in belief or opinion
schism = schis<split> + m<noun suffix>
- schis<split>: From Greek skhisma (a split or division), derived from skhizein (to split).
- m<noun suffix>: A nominalizing suffix in Greek, often retained in English to form nouns.
Etymology Origin:
The word schism traces back to Greek skhisma, reflecting the act of splitting or dividing. It entered Late Latin as schisma and later Old French as scisme before being adopted into Middle English. Historically, it has been used to describe major religious splits, such as the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Christian churches in 1054. The morpheme schis- preserves the core idea of division, while the suffix -m marks it as a noun.
The schism in the church led to the formation of two opposing factions.
Political schisms often arise from fundamental disagreements.
The schism between the two leaders became irreparable.
A schism in the party weakened its influence.
The community healed after years of schism.