# catechism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkætɪˌkɪzəm/ · frequency rank #31,904

## Definitions
1. A book, in question and answer form, summarizing the basic principles of Christianity.
2. A basic manual in some subject.
3. A set of questions designed to determine knowledge.

## Etymology
From Late Latin catechismus, from Ancient Greek *κατηχισμός (*katēkhismós), from κατηχίζω (katēkhízō, “to catechize”), a later extended form of κατηχέω (katēkhéō, “to catechize, instruct, teach by word of mouth”), from κατά (katá, “down”) + ἠχέω (ēkhéō, “to sound, resound”).

## Common misspellings (14)
`actechism`, `caetchism`, `catcehism`, `catecchism`, `catechhism`, `catechims`, `catechismm`, `catechissm`, `catechsim`, `catecihsm`, `catehcism`, `cattechism`, `ccatechism`, `ctaechism`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/catechism