1
2
a
: formal division in or separation from a church or religious body
b
: the offense of promoting schism
Examples of schism in a Sentence
a schism between leading members of the party
The church was divided by schism.
Recent Examples on the Web
This meant that working within an executive structure which was not always aligned allowed schisms to grow and cliques to foster.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
There’s practically nothing that his Catholic foes, still smarting at the Church of England’s rejection of papal authority, won’t believe about the man who helped engineer the schism so that Henry (Damian Lewis) could divorce his first wife as part of his ongoing quest to beget a male heir.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
The March 28 event was an especially gargantuan rupture along one specific schism.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2025
The schism became public in 2020 when Prince Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from their royal roles.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for schism
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Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
There’s practically nothing that his Catholic foes, still smarting at the Church of England’s rejection of papal authority, won’t believe about the man who helped engineer the schism so that Henry (Damian Lewis) could divorce his first wife as part of his ongoing quest to beget a male heir.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
The March 28 event was an especially gargantuan rupture along one specific schism.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2025
The schism became public in 2020 when Prince Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from their royal roles.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for schism
Cite this Entry
“Schism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/schism. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
b
: lack of harmony : discord
2
a
: division in or separation from a church or religious body
b
: the offense of promoting schism
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