indoctrinate

American  

[in-dok-truh-neyt] / ɪnˈdɒk trəˌneɪt /

verb (used with object)

indoctrinated, indoctrinating

1. to instruct in a doctrine, principle, ideology, etc., especially to imbue with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view.

   Synonyms:

   propagandize, brainwash

2. to teach or inculcate.

3. to imbue with learning.

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indoctrinate British  

/ ɪnˈdɒktrɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to teach (a person or group of people) systematically to accept doctrines, esp uncritically

2. rare to impart learning to; instruct

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Other Word Forms

• indoctrination
  noun
• indoctrinator
  noun
• reindoctrinate
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of indoctrinate

First recorded in 1620–30; in- ² + Medieval Latin doctrīnātus, past participle of doctrīnāre “to teach”; see doctrine, -ate ¹

Explanation

If you indoctrinate someone, you teach that person a one-sided view of something and ignore or dismiss opinions that don’t agree with your view. Cults, political entities, and even fans of particular sports teams are often said to indoctrinate their followers. If you indoctrinate someone, the goal is to have that person follow a particular set of beliefs (or a doctrine), rather than being able to think independently or know right from wrong. For example, a child may be indoctrinated into a life of violence by growing up in a war-torn region, or a student may be indoctrinated into a life as a Marxist by an influential political science professor.

Example Sentences

Indoctrinate, in-dok′trin-āt, v.t. to instruct in any doctrine: to imbue with any opinion.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Related Words

• imbue
• inculcate
• instill