Meaning & use
pacifism
Last updated
The belief that violence and war are unjustifiable, and that disputes should be resolved through peaceful means.
See it in a sentence
His pacifism led him to refuse military service on moral grounds.
The movement's pacifism inspired peaceful protests instead of armed resistance.
A note on using this word
A person who holds this belief is called a "pacifist"; the philosophy is closely associated with figures like Mahatma Gandhi and movements advocating nonviolent resistance.
Words with a similar meaning
nonviolence
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
militarism
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