/ ˈskɪzəm; NAmE ; ˈsɪzəm/ noun
[ C , U ] ( formal ) strong disagreement within an organization, especially a religious one, that makes its members divide into separate groups
► schis·mat·ic / skɪzˈmætɪk; NAmE ; sɪzˈmætɪk/ adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French scisme , via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek skhisma cleft, from skhizein to split.