schismatic

UK: /skɪzˈmætɪk/ US: /sɪzˈmætɪk, skɪz-/ ,(siz mat′ik, skiz-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

schis•mat•ic  (siz mat′ik, skiz-), adj. 

1. Also, schis•mat′i•cal. of, pertaining to, or of the nature of schism;
   guilty of schism.

n. 

2. a person who promotes schism or is an adherent of a schismatic body.

• Late Latin, as above
• Middle French scismatique
• Greek schismatikós (see schism, -ic); replacing Middle English scismatik
• Late Latin schismaticus
• 1350–1400

schis•mat′i•cal•ly, adv. 
schis•mat′i•cal•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

schismatic / skɪzˈmætɪk sɪz-/, schismatical adjective

1. of, relating to, or promoting schism

noun

1. a person who causes schism or belongs to a schismatic faction

schisˈmatically adverb

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

schism /ˈsɪzəm, ˈskɪz-/   n. 

1. separation, esp. into opposed sides, as in a church:
   [uncountable] The groups worked hard to avoid schism.
   [countable] The early days of that church were marked by bitter schisms.

schis•mat•ic /sɪzˈmætɪk, skɪz-/  adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

schism  (siz′əm, skiz′-), n. 

1. division or disunion, esp. into mutually opposed parties.
2. the parties so formed.
3. Religion [Eccles.]
   • a formal division within, or separation from, a church or religious body over some doctrinal difference.
   • the state of a sect or body formed by such division.
   • the offense of causing or seeking to cause such a division.

• Late Latin, as above
• Middle French
• Greek, derivative of schízein to split, with -ma (stem -mat-) noun, nominal suffix of result; replacing Middle English (s)cisme, sisme
• Late Latin (Vulgate) sc(h)isma (stem sc(h)ismat-)
• 1350–1400

schism′less, adj.