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Showing results for doctrinal. Search instead for doctrinally.
Synonyms

doctrinal

American  
[dok-truh-nl, dok-trahyn-l] / ˈdɒk trə nl, dɒkˈtraɪn l /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or concerned with doctrine.

    a doctrinal dispute.

Other Word Forms

  • doctrinality noun
  • doctrinally adverb
  • nondoctrinal adjective
  • nondoctrinally adverb
  • undoctrinal adjective
  • undoctrinally adverb

Etymology

Origin of doctrinal

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin doctrīnālis, equivalent to Latin doctrīn ( a ) ( 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.

The Court of Chancery’s decision against Tesla External link in 2024 demonstrated this doctrinal drift.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

A churchman of exceptional rhetorical skill, Augustine was naturally drawn into doctrinal and intellectual controversies, in which he showed a fearsome determination that his views should win out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Prof Xulu said churches like the IPHC, while having an "eclectic approach to Christianity" that was "half-Christian, half-African", did have doctrinal justifications for their traditions as well as "internal dispute-resolution mechanisms".

From BBC • May 3, 2025

While she described the moment of danger as potentially having “prime importance” under Graham, that characterization reflects a rhetorical emphasis more than a doctrinal one.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2025

Now, huge doctrinal differences hang on the placing of this comma.

From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.