Standard Lemma guide

Sicilianism

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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The ensemble of customs, mentality and attitudes traditionally attributed to Sicilians.

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

A word or phrase identified as being Sicilian (language or Italian dialect), as written in Sicily or by a Sicilian, or as expressive of Sicilian mentality or attitudes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • 1900, J. Rendel Harris, Further Researches into the History of the Ferrar-Group, C. J. Clay and Sons, Cambridge University Press, page 76, In proving or testing for Sicilianism or Ferrarism amongst the MSS. tabulated above, we must be to a large extent dependent upon fresh examinations and further collations. It is, however, interesting to note that in the case of some of the MSS. referred to, including the less accessible of them, the Ferrarism, or the Sicilianism, can be clearly made out.
  • 1994, Frede Jensen (editor and translator), Tuscan Poetry of the Duecento: An Anthology, footnote, page 308, 12. dia: is Provençal or a Sicilianism: ogni dia (Notaio, v. 6: Cont I 61) 'every day'.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Sicilian nationalism; a political movement within Sicily, and to some extent in the Sicilian diaspora, which seeks greater autonomy or even full independence for Sicily from Italy and promotes Sicilian identity in terms of culture, history and language; also used historically.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: government, politics

Examples

  • 2009 [Pearson Education Ltd], Martin Clark, The Italian Risorgimento, 2nd Edition, 2013, Taylor & Francis (Routledge), page 23, ‘Sicilianism’ was conservative and aristocratic, but it was a real separatist threat to the weak and remote Bourbon government in Naples.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Sicilian + -ism.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Italian: sicilitudine — set of customs, mentality and attitudes attributed to Sicilians
  • Italian: sicilianismo — word or phrase of Sicilian origin
  • Italian: sicilianismo — Sicilian nationalism