Pacifism is a belief that rejectsrefuses to accept or agree with something violencephysical force used to hurt people or damage things, especially in politics and war. Depending on context, it can mean a general opposition to all violence or the view that disputesarguments or disagreements between people or groups should be solved without force.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈpæsəˌfɪzəm/
Easy pronunciation: PASS-uh-fiz-um (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the first syllable, with a secondary stress on the third syllable.
Noun: the belief that all violence is wrong and should not be used.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pacifism Meaning
a belief against using violence
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the belief that all violence is wrong and should not be used
Example: Her pacifism led her to refuse military service.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- passivism — Listed as a dictionary synonym, but it is rare and not a normal everyday substitute.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Pacifism
Meaning 2
the belief that countries should solve conflicts peacefully
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the belief that international disputes should be settled by arbitration instead of war
Example: His pacifism made him strongly oppose war and support negotiation.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- pacificism — A listed synonym for this international-relations sense, but it is uncommon.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pacifism Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- passivism
belief that conflicts between countries should be settled without war
- pacificism
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Pacifism is not the same as being passive or weak; it specifically refers to opposition to violence.
- Pacifism can refer to a broad moral belief or, more narrowly, to peaceful settlement of international disputes.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does pacifism mean in simple English?
Pacifism means believing that violence should not be used, especially to solve conflicts or fight wars.
Is pacifism only about war?
No. It can mean opposition to violence in general, though it is often used in connection with war and international conflict.
What are the synonyms of pacifism?
The closest listed synonyms are passivism and, in a narrower sense, pacificism, though both are uncommon.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.