'suffragism' originates from English 'suffrage' (ultimately from Latin 'suffragium'), with the suffix '-ism' (from Greek '-ismos' via Latin), where 'suffragium' meant 'a voting tablet, vote, or support'.

'suffrage' came into English via Old French from Latin 'suffragium'; in modern English the suffix '-ism' was added to form 'suffragism' to denote the doctrine or movement supporting suffrage.

Initially the root 'suffragium' referred to 'a vote' or 'a means of support'; over time the combined form 'suffragism' evolved to mean 'the movement or ideology advocating voting rights', particularly women's voting rights.