: opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes
specifically: refusal to bear arms on moral or religious grounds
For Quakers pacifism is a major tenet of belief.
2
: an attitude or policy of nonresistance
efforts toward pacifism and civil rights
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebDespite Germany’s strong postwar tradition of pacifism, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly seven months ago shocked the public into thinking very differently about national defense. Markus Ziener, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Shortly after the invasion, Mr. Scholz moved to ramp up military spending and deliver arms to Ukraine, breaking with years of pacifism and a legal ban on the delivery of offensive weapons in conflict zones. Bojan Pancevski, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 In interviews with mainstream outlets such as Vox and The New Yorker, Malm contends that climate activists should give up their dogmatic attachment to pacifism and start to destroy the machines that actually produce carbon.New York Times, 26 May 2022 Some of that sentiment is rooted in pacifism, partly conditioned by Italy's closeness to the Vatican, as well as in a strain of anti-Americanism derived from U.S.-led wars on foreign soil. Colleen Barry, ajc, 9 May 2022 How Cohen finds his way through this personal impasse is an intriguing, parable-like tale of a pacifism-leaning troubadour who rediscovers his purpose in the Sinai desert during the Yom Kippur War of 1973.Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2022 Germany increased its defense budget despite a long stance of pacifism after World War II. Phil Mccausland, NBC news, 9 May 2022 The polls say sending heavy weapons to Ukraine also enjoys support with a German public shaken (for now) out of its traditional pacifism by Mr. Putin’s invasion. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 25 Apr. 2022 Despite Germany’s participation in armed operations in Afghanistan, Africa and elsewhere, the Social Democrats have a long tradition of pacifism and maintaining friendly relations with Russia. Bojan Pancevski, WSJ, 26 Apr. 2022 See More