Etymology

islamism

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Today it means: The religion of Muslims; Islam. Full definition →

First used 17th c.French islamisme
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The story

  1. French · borrowed fromislamisme
  2. English todayIslamism

Appearing in English in the 1740s, from French islamisme (1720s), paralleling the French christianisme and judaïsme. By surface analysis, Islam + -ism.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 17th c. The religion of Muslims; Islam.
  • from 20th c. A popular reform movement advocating the reordering of government and society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam.
  • from 20th c. Islamic fundamentalism, especially the forms that promote violence, hostility, and persecution of non-believers.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.