ideology

[ahy-dee-ol-uh-jee, id-ee-]

noun

plural

ideologies 

1. the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.

2. such a body of doctrine, myth, etc., with reference to some political and social plan, as that of fascism, along with the devices for putting it into operation.

3. Philosophy.

   1. the study of the nature and origin of ideas.

   2. a system that derives ideas exclusively from sensation.

4. theorizing of a visionary or impractical nature.

ideology

/ ˌaɪdɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌaɪdɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. a body of ideas that reflects the beliefs and interests of a nation, political system, etc and underlies political action

2. philosophy sociol the set of beliefs by which a group or society orders reality so as to render it intelligible

3. speculation that is imaginary or visionary

4. the study of the nature and origin of ideas

ideology

1. A system of beliefs or theories, usually political, held by an individual or a group. Capitalism, communism, and socialism are usually called ideologies.

Other Word Forms

• ideological adjective
• ideologically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ideology¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; ideo- + -logy

Example Sentences

What used to be a gradual drift into extremism has become a rapid slide, driven not by ideology alone but also by algorithms—code written to keep us engaged and enraged.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Wade, as well as a new wave of state-level legislation on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and education, as direct results of the ideology’s growing influence.

Read more on Salon

The platform's community guidelines prohibit hate speech, hateful behaviour, or promotion of hateful ideologies, including discrimination on the basis of disability.

Read more on BBC

While it fits his narrative, the overbold assertion does a disservice to serious science, and its lack of nuance gives fuel to those who would say that climate-change discourse is mere ideology.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The country's next national census, scheduled for 2027, will - for the first time in nearly a century - count every caste, a social hierarchy that has long outlived kingdoms, empires and ideologies.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• creed 
• culture 
• dogma 
• outlook 
• philosophy 
• theory 
• view