-ism - a suffix used to create new nouns using the following rules:
- doctrine, theory or religion (e.g. evolutionism, pacifism, anglicanism)
- theory developed by (e.g. Marxism, Leninism, Pavlovianism)
- movement (e.g. feminism, globalism, antidisestablishmentarianism)
- action, process or practice (e.g. terrorism, baptism)
- characteristic, quality or origin (e.g. heroism, Anglicism, sensualism)
- state or condition (e.g. pauperism)
- excess or disease (e.g. botulism, strychninism)
- prejudice, or bias (e.g. racism)
- other (e.g. organism)
In reference to doctrines, theories or prejudice, some people preceive a derogatory meaning implied by this suffix (e.g. stalinism, racism, etc.)
See also Isms.