ergism

E1R1G2I1S1M3

noun

The belief that good works are necessary for salvation.

Scrabble 9
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Meanings

nounergism (uncountable)
  1. uncountablelifestyleThe belief that good works are necessary for salvation.

    The two main forms of literalism are ergism and orthodoxy.

    2015, Søren Kierkegaard, Bruce H. Kirmmse, K. Brian Söderquist, Kierkegaard's Journals and Notebooks, Volume 2: Journals EE-KK, →ISBN
    2 more examples

    Faith without works is dogma-righteousness, orthodoxism. Works without the foundation of faith are work-righteousness, ergism.

    1867, Johann Peter Lange, Philip Schaff, A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    Both enthusiasm and “ergism" are sheer illusion. Neither one is found in pure Christianity.

    1900, The American Journal of Theology - Volume 4, Issue 1, page 146

Origin

From ergo- (“work”) + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

grimes
Cite this entry
APA

ergism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ergism

MLA

“ergism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ergism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ergism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ergism.

Source: ergism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.