Standard Lemma guide

pharisaism

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈfaɹ.ɪˌseɪ.ɪz.(ə)m/
  • Received-Pronunciation: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈfɛɹ.əˌseɪˌɪz.əm/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: F AE1 R IH0 S EY2 IH2 Z AH0 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The doctrines and practices, or the character and spirit, of the Pharisees.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Rigid observance of external forms of religion without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion; a censorious, self-righteous spirit in matters of morals or manners.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: Christianity

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Alternative letter-case form of pharisaism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Late Latin Pharisaismus, from Pharĭsaeus (“Pharisee”) + -ismus (“-ism”); compare French Pharisaïsme, Italian Fariseismo (archaic), farisaismo.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: fariseisme — doctrines and practices of the Pharisees
  • Esperanto: fariseismo — doctrines and practices of the Pharisees
  • Finnish: farisealaisuus — doctrines and practices of the Pharisees
  • French: pharisaïsme — doctrines and practices of the Pharisees
  • Greek: φαρισαϊσμός (farisaïsmós) — doctrines and practices of the Pharisees
  • Swedish: fariseism — doctrines and practices of the Pharisees
  • Esperanto: fariseado — rigid observance of external forms of religion
  • Finnish: farisealaisuus — rigid observance of external forms of religion
  • French: pharisaïsme — rigid observance of external forms of religion
  • Greek: φαρισαϊσμός (farisaïsmós) — rigid observance of external forms of religion
  • Italian: farisaismo — rigid observance of external forms of religion
  • Portuguese: farisaísmo — rigid observance of external forms of religion
  • Swedish: fariseism — rigid observance of external forms of religion