-ˌnizəm noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: French gallicanisme theory advocating administrative independence from papal control for the Roman Catholic Church in France, from Middle French gallican of the Roman Catholic Church in France, French (from Medieval Latin Gallicanus French) + -isme -ism
1. : a theory originally formulated in France advocating administrative independence from papal control for the Roman Catholic Church in each nation — compare ultramontanism
2. : advocacy of or devotion to Gallicanism or the independence it is designed to achieve