baptism noun A Christian religious ceremony in which a person is sprinkled with or immersed in water as a sign of purification. The whole family gathered at the church for the baby's baptism. + criticism noun The expression of disapproval based on perceived faults or mistakes. The new policy faced heavy criticism from local business owners. + tourism noun The business and activity of traveling to and visiting places for pleasure or leisure. Tourism is the main source of income for the small island nation. + heroism noun Great courage or bravery, especially when facing danger to help others. The firefighter's heroism during the blaze saved three families from the burning building. + racism noun Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against people based on their race. The report documented widespread racism in the company's hiring practices. + sexism noun Prejudice or discrimination against people, especially women, based on their sex. The lawsuit accused the firm of sexism for paying female employees less than men in the same role. + optimism noun A tendency to expect favorable outcomes and to see the positive side of situations. Despite the setbacks, her optimism kept the whole team motivated through the project's final weeks. + pessimism noun A tendency to expect the worst outcome or to focus on negative possibilities. His pessimism made him assume the project would fail before it even started. + realism noun The attitude or practice of accepting and dealing with situations as they actually are, without illusion. Her realism about the company's finances helped the team plan for a difficult year ahead. + idealism noun The pursuit of high or noble ideals, often without full regard for what is practical or achievable. Her idealism led her to volunteer abroad instead of pursuing a higher-paying job. + capitalism noun An economic system based on private ownership and the pursuit of profit through free markets. Under capitalism, businesses compete to offer better products at lower prices. + socialism noun An economic and political system in which the community or government owns and controls major means of production. Under socialism, the government owned most factories and distributed resources according to central plans. + communism noun A political and economic system in which property and the means of production are owned collectively, aiming for a classless society. The country adopted communism after the revolution overthrew the monarchy. + patriotism noun A deep love, loyalty, and devotion to one's own country. Waving flags on Independence Day, the crowd expressed a shared sense of patriotism. + journalism noun The activity or profession of gathering, writing, and publishing news for the public. She studied journalism in college before landing her first job at a local newspaper. + mechanism noun A system of parts working together within a machine, or a process by which something happens. A small mechanism inside the clock controls how the hands move each second. + organism noun An individual living thing. A single bacterium is an organism. + magnetism noun The physical force that attracts certain materials, such as iron, and repels others; also a person's compelling charm. The magnetism of the coil was strong enough to lift small metal pins. + mysticism noun The belief that direct, personal knowledge of ultimate reality or God can be reached through spiritual experience. The monk devoted his life to mysticism, seeking union with the divine through prayer. + activism noun The policy or practice of taking direct, vigorous action to achieve political or social change. Her activism helped bring national attention to the community's lack of clean water. + feminism noun The belief in and advocacy of political, economic, and social equality between women and men. Her thesis traces the history of feminism from early suffrage movements to modern activism. + favoritism noun The unfair practice of giving preferential treatment to one person or group over others. Employees complained about favoritism after the manager's nephew got promoted ahead of everyone else. + plagiarism noun The act of using someone else's words or ideas and presenting them as your own. The student was expelled after the university found clear evidence of plagiarism in her thesis. + vandalism noun The deliberate destruction or defacement of property belonging to someone else. Spray-painted slogans across the war memorial were widely condemned as vandalism. + terrorism noun The use of violence or intimidation against civilians, typically for political or ideological aims. The attack was widely condemned as an act of terrorism against innocent civilians. + hypnotism noun The practice or study of inducing hypnosis, a trance-like state of deep relaxation and focused attention. The stage performer used hypnotism to convince volunteers they were chickens. + cynicism noun A distrustful attitude that assumes people are motivated mainly by self-interest rather than honesty or kindness. Years of broken promises had left her with a deep cynicism about politics. + altruism noun Selfless concern for the wellbeing of others, often shown through acts of generosity without expecting anything in return. Her decision to donate a kidney to a stranger was a striking act of altruism. + egoism noun The ethical view that a person's actions should be guided primarily by self-interest, or a general tendency to act that way. The philosopher argued that ethical egoism justifies any action that benefits the person performing it. + tokenism noun The practice of making only a symbolic or minimal effort to include underrepresented people, without real change. Critics accused the company of tokenism for hiring one diverse candidate to appear in ads. +