Word
extremism
Phoneticsex·trem·ism
US/ˌɛkˈstɹɛmɪzəm/
UK/ɛkstɹˈiːmɪzəm/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the belief in very strong or radical ideas, especially in politics or religion. People who follow this often reject moderate views and may support extreme actions to reach their goals.
n. the holding of extreme political or religious views; fanaticism. Refers to ideologies that sit far outside the societal mainstream and often advocate for radical change through non-democratic means.
Examples
“The government is working to prevent political extremism.”
“The rise of online extremism has led many social media platforms to update their content moderation policies.”
“Scholars often distinguish between cognitive extremism, which involves holding radical beliefs, and behavioral extremism, which involves the actual use of violence to achieve ideological objectives.”
Examples
simple
“The government is working to prevent political extremism.”
contextual
“The rise of online extremism has led many social media platforms to update their content moderation policies.”
complex
“Scholars often distinguish between cognitive extremism, which involves holding radical beliefs, and behavioral extremism, which involves the actual use of violence to achieve ideological objectives.”
Usage
Uncountable in its general sense; often paired with the prepositions 'in' or 'of'.
Real-World Examples
“Across every single form of extremism we measured, the strongest predictor wasn't political ideology, religion, ethnicity or how much time someone spent online.” “The first-of-its-kind Australian study surveyed 1,122 young people ages 13–17 and 2,307 adults to compare attitudes toward women, gender equality, online influences and violent extremism.” Etymology
From extreme + -ism.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/extremism