A chasm is a deep, wide gap or crack in the ground. It can be literal—like a canyon—or figurative, meaning a big difference or divide between people, ideas, or groups.
In everyday talk, people use “chasm” when they feel a huge distance between two things. For example, someone might say, “There’s a chasm between what the CEO promised and what we actually got,” or friends might joke, “The chasm between my cooking skills and a chef’s is massive.” It paints a quick picture of something hard to cross or close.
Meaning & Usage Examples
- “The earthquake opened a chasm across the road.”
- “A chasm still exists between rural and urban internet speeds.”
- “Closing the chasm in pay between men and women is urgent.”
Context / Common Use
You’ll hear “chasm” in news headlines, business reports, and everyday chats when someone wants to stress how large and tough a gap feels. It’s more dramatic than plain “gap” or “difference,” so people reach for it when emotions run high.
Is a chasm always about land?
No. While it can be a physical crack, people mostly use it to describe social, emotional, or economic divides.
Can “chasm” be small?
Not really. The word implies something wide and hard to bridge, so if it’s tiny, another word like “gap” fits better.
How do you pronounce “chasm”?
Say it like “KAZ-um”—the “ch” sounds like a “k.”
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