dogma

[dawg-muh, dog-]

noun

plural

dogmas ,

plural

dogmata .

1. an official system of principles or tenets concerning faith, morals, behavior, etc., as of a church.

   Synonyms: philosophy, doctrine

2. a specific tenet or doctrine authoritatively laid down, as by a church.

   the dogma of the Assumption;

   the recently defined dogma of papal infallibility.

   Synonyms: law, canon, tenet

3. prescribed doctrine proclaimed as unquestionably true by a particular group.

   the difficulty of resisting political dogma.

4. a settled or established opinion, belief, or principle.

   the classic dogma of objectivity in scientific observation.

   Synonyms: certainty, conviction

dogma

/ ˈdɒɡmə /

noun

1. a religious doctrine or system of doctrines proclaimed by ecclesiastical authority as true

2. a belief, principle, or doctrine or a code of beliefs, principles, or doctrines

   Marxist dogma

dogma

1. A teaching or set of teachings laid down by a religious group, usually as part of the essential beliefs of the group.

The term dogma is often applied to statements put forward by someone who thinks, inappropriately, that they should be accepted without proof.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dogma¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin: “philosophical tenet, principle, dogma,” from Greek dógma “what seems good, opinion, belief, (in philosophy) doctrine; decision, public decree, ordinance,” equivalent to dok(eîn) “to expect, think, seem, seem good, pretend” + -ma noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of dogma¹

C17: via Latin from Greek: opinion, belief, from dokein to seem good

Example Sentences

And it’s never alluded to that she doesn’t fully believe her own dogma.

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Sundance was and is his version of the American dream, built to fit his inclusive, thoughtful dogma.

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It is part of a broader effort to undermine the institutions that most embody provisional thinking — research, evidence, science — and replace them with a worldview that trades doubt for dogma.

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They deserve honesty, transparency and policy grounded in economic realism, not ideological fantasy and environmental dogma.

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“They stand against dogma, conformity and indoctrination. We can disagree, passionately, even vehemently, but always respectfully.”

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Related Words

• credo 
• creed 
• doctrine 
• gospel 
• precept 
• teachings www.thesaurus.com
• tenet