bellicism
nounUK /ˈbɛlɪsɪzm̩/
Etymology From Latin bellic(us) + -ism.
1
An inclination to war; warlike policy or behaviour.
- One cannot understand the causes of the First World War unless one appreciates the degree of bellicism in European society at that time, especially in Central Europe […].1962, Michael Howard, The Causes of Wars, page 271:
- Today the phrase "holy war" suggests a no holds barred fanaticism, a form of unbridled bellicism.2003, Timothy Patrick Jackson, The Priority of Love, page 126:
1 more example
- Not all of France was inundated by the nationalist wave – it was predominantly young, intelligent Parisians who embraced the new bellicism […].2012, Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers, Penguin, published 2013, page 295:
- Synonyms
- hawkism, militarism, warism, warmongerism
- Antonyms
- pacifism
- Related terms
- bellicist, bellicose, possessionism, supremacistic, territorialist, governmentism, supervisionist, powerism, imperialistic, apartheidism, bloodthirster