ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Word parts›Suffixes›-ism
SuffixGreek
-ism
turns an idea or practice into a noun naming a doctrine, system, practice, or characteristic behavior
Greek -ismos named a practice or doctrine: optimism expects good, realism faces reality, and capitalism organizes wealth around capital.
Words built from it
- optimism — a tendency to expect favorable results
optim- (best) + -ism (outlook or doctrine) - realism — an outlook that accepts reality as it is
real (actual) + -ism (outlook or practice) - capitalism — an economic system based on private ownership and investment for profit
capital (wealth used to produce more wealth) + -ism (economic system) - heroism — remarkable courage or self-sacrifice
hero (brave person) + -ism (characteristic conduct)
Looks like it, but is not
- dismissal — from dismiss + -al, ultimately Latin dis- 'apart' + mittere 'send,' not -ism
- prism — from Greek prisma 'something sawed,' not the -ism suffix
Drill this word part in the app
More suffixes
- -ic — turns a noun into an adjective meaning related to or characterized by it
- -ify — turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning make or cause to become
- -ist — turns a field, practice, or belief into a noun for a person associated with it
- -ity — turns an adjective or root into a noun naming a state or quality
- -ive — turns a verb or root into an adjective meaning tending to, able to, or serving to do it