Meaning

noun a social system that provides separate facilities for minority groups

noun a disposition toward schism and secession from a larger group; the principles and practices of separatists

noun advocacy of a policy of strict separation of church and state

originEtymology tree English separate Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English separatism From separate + -ism.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0