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Ideology was coined during which century?

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ideology

American  

[ahy-dee-ol-uh-jee, id-ee-] / ˌaɪ diˈɒl ə dʒi, ˌɪd i- /

noun

• ideologies
  plural

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.

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ideology British  

/ 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

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ideology Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ideological
  adjective
• ideologically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ideologies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of ideology

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

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Explanation

An ideology is a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or an individual. Very often ideology refers to a set of political beliefs or a set of ideas that characterize a particular culture. Capitalism, communism, socialism, and Marxism are ideologies. But not all -ism words are. Think: cronyism (a system of graft whereby friends unfairly help each other make money.) Our English noun is from French idéologie. The suffix –logy, used with many English words describing theories or doctrines, is from Greek logos "word, reason, speech, account."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ideology ideologies

The post claimed to draw inspiration from Paul Verhoeven’s “Starship Troopers,” in which the soldiers are deliberately modeled on the fascist aesthetic and ideology of the Nazis.

From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2026

It wasn’t ideology that made me want to claw the stubble off my own face.

From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2026

Oman had scrutinized his online habits and decided he showed too much interest in radical ideology to trust as a pilot at state carrier Oman Air, where he worked.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

Oliver Stuenkel, a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, downplayed the importance of ideology in regional relations as more "rhetorical than substantive."

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

In effect, the fading revolutionary ideology and the growing racial demography were converging to close off the political options.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

"We vowed the terrorists would not escape punishment, and no proponent of dark ideologies that divide Jordanians will be tolerated," he wrote on X.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

One key objection was the mature tone of the narrative, in which the child protagonist is directly confronted and endangered by the evils derived from fascist ideologies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

The committee’s recommendations included diversifying funding sources, embracing a range of ideologies and developing a new tuition model.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Baum has stressed that "my family and I firmly reject extremist ideologies and will not accept the AfD's appropriation of our name".

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

These wartime allies stood for opposing worldviews and hostile ideologies, and their recent triumph over Nazism made them less, not more, open to compromise.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

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Related Words

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

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