Definition

1. Noun:
   • A major split or division within a religious body, especially the Roman Catholic Church: The term "Great Schism" most specifically refers to the Western Schism (1378–1417), a period of crisis when rival claimants to the papacy created a split in Western Christendom.
   • A profound and lasting division: More broadly, it can denote any significant rupture within a previously unified institution or group, though this usage often references the historical event.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The Great Schism of 1378 weakened the authority of the Catholic Church for decades.
  • Historians study the causes and consequences of the Great Schism.
  • The council was convened to end the Great Schism and restore a single pope.

Advanced Usage

• "The Great Schism" (capitalized): Almost always refers specifically to the Western Schism of 1378–1417. It is a proper noun for this historical event.
  • The resolution of the Great Schism required the Council of Constance.
• "a great schism" (lowercase): Can be used metaphorically to describe a major split in other contexts, such as politics or philosophy.
  • The new policy caused a great schism within the political party.

Variants and Related Words

• Schism (n): A formal division or split within a religious body, or any division or disunion.
  • The schism led to the formation of two separate churches.
• Schismatic (adj): Relating to or involved in a schism.
  • Schismatic movements challenged the central authority.

Synonyms

• Split: A division or disagreement.
• Division: The action of separating into parts.
• Rift: A serious break in friendly relations.

Related Phrases

• Heal the schism: To repair a major division.
  • The leader's goal was to heal the schism in the community.
• Cause a schism: To create a major split.
  • The controversial doctrine threatened to cause a schism.

Related Idioms

• A house divided: (While not an idiom "schism," it describes a similar state of internal conflict often resulting from one.)
  • The great schism left the church a house divided against itself.

Noun

1. the period from 1378 to 1417 during which there were two papacies in the Roman Catholic Church, one in Rome and one in Avignon