What does jesuitism mean?
Jesuitism is a noun referring to the principles, practices, and institutional character associated with the Society of Jesus, the Roman Catholic order founded by Ignatius of Loyola in the sixteenth century. In relatively neutral historical contexts, it can name the order's distinctive theology, discipline, and missionary methods. In more hostile usage, however, Jesuitism denotes alleged cunning, double-dealing, secrecy, and adaptation of religious belief to political circumstances. This critical meaning became especially prominent in Protestant and other anti-Catholic polemic, where the word served to accuse opponents of calculated hypocrisy. Consequently, the term should be handled carefully in modern writing: it may preserve a source's historical attitude, but it is not generally used as an impartial description of contemporary Jesuit beliefs or conduct. The word is chiefly associated with English historical and religious discourse and is much less common in everyday modern usage than the shorter term Jesuit.
nounJesuitism denotes the doctrines, principles, and practices associated with the Society of Jesus. In hostile or historical usage, it refers to alleged cunning, double-dealing, or religious opportunism attributed to Jesuits.
- The doctrines, principles, or practices of the Society of Jesus.
- Hostile characterization of those principles and practices as crafty, deceptive, or politically manipulative.
"The pamphlet accused the government of promoting a policy of Jesuitism."
"Early modern writers frequently used Jesuitism as a term of political and religious abuse."
"The historian carefully separated the Society's official teaching from later accusations of Jesuitism."
Jesuitism is ordinarily an uncountable mass noun. The plural jesuitisms is rare and may distinguish separate doctrines, practices, or accusations of Jesuitism.
"The essay identifies several historical jesuitisms rather than treating the term as a single unified doctrine."
What began as a name for the principles of the Society of Jesus became a political insult: calling someone a Jesuit or accusing them of Jesuitism meant suggesting calculated deceit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jesuitism come from?
Jesuitism was formed in English from Jesuit and the suffix -ism. The word Jesuit derives from French jesuite, ultimately from the Latin Jesuita, an adherent of the Society of Jesus; the order takes its name from Jesus. By the early seventeenth century, Jesuitism had also acquired a strongly polemical sense, used by opponents to characterize Jesuit conduct as deceptive or politically opportunistic.
How jesuitism is actually used
The word is uncommon in neutral contemporary use and often carries a hostile or satirical connotation. Its critical sense is especially associated with historical religious and political polemic.
Easily confused with jesuitism
Jesuitism usually denotes Jesuit principles or practices, often in a critical sense, whereas Jesuitry can denote the Society of Jesus collectively or its institutional character.