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Full Definition of SCHISM. 1. 2. a: formal division in or separation from a church or religious body b: the offense of promoting schism. See schism defined for English-language learners.
Usage Note: The word schism, originally spelled scisme, cisme, and sisme in English, was formerly pronounced (sÄ­zâ²Ém), without a (k) sound, as if it were etymologically related to scissors. (It isn't, or at least not in any straightforward way; see the Word History below.)