-ism is a suffix in many English words, first usage , originally derived from
Ancient Greek (
-ismos), reaching English through Latin, via French. It is often used in philosophy to define specific
ideologies, and, as such, at times it is used as a noun when referring to a broad range of ideologies in a general sense. The suffix 'ism' qua ism is neutral and therefore bears no connotations associated with any of the many ideologies it has been appended to; such determinations can only be informed by
public opinion regarding specific ideologies like ageism, cubism etc. According to
Merriam–Webster's Dictionary of English Usage it is a belief, attitude, style, etc., that is referred to by a word that ends in the suffix -ism : the act, practice, or process of doing something
- behavior like that of a specified kind of person or thing
- unfair treatment of a group of people who have a particular quality