doctrinal
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of doctrinal
1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin doctrīnālis, equivalent to Latin doctrīn ( a ) ( see doctrine) + -ālis -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Vermeer emerged from the doctrinal matrices of 17th-century Delft.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Antiqua et Nova, a doctrinal note of the Catholic Church published in January of 2025, uses the term “human person.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
Cain, in which the doctrinal maze is itself the story.
From Slate ● Apr. 10, 2026
The Court of Chancery’s decision against Tesla External link in 2024 demonstrated this doctrinal drift.
From Barron's ● Jan. 14, 2026
Superstition was a widely available nostrum for people powerless against the miseries of famine, pestilence and deadly doctrinal conflict.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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