ism

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

ism, n. [See ism, above.].

 A doctrine or theory; especially, a wild or visionary theory.  E. Everett.  [1913 Webster]
"The world grew light-headed, and forth came a spawn of isms which no man can number."

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ism, n. colloq. usu. derog. any distinctive but unspecified doctrine or practice of a kind with a name in -ism.

THESAURUS

ism

Weltanschauung, adherents, articles of religion, catechism, church, class, communion, confession, credenda, credo, creed, cult, cultism, denomination, disciples, doctrinal statement, faith, followers, formulated belief, gospel, ideology, mystique, order, persuasion, political faith, political philosophy, religion, school, sect, system of belief, world view