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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

Etymology

Origin of ideology

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

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

Is this the only Massachusetts race tonight in which age and ideology are factors?

From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026

"If they had disappeared, then I could be happy about it. Unfortunately, they continue to exist. This ideology is not dead."

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

First, they continue to prize ideology and record over legacy names—and clearly have real concerns about Darline Graham’s positions and experience.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Not whether Ellison privately considers himself a conservative, a liberal or a man above ideology, nor whether Weiss thinks of herself as a dissident or a reformer.

From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026

Second, my contact with the labor movement and its ideology made me see Bigger clearly and feel what he meant.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

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

In contrast, the rigid ideologies of homogenous teams “constrain portfolio choice” and make it less likely that the funds will “adapt to novel or changing environments.”

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 12, 2026

Thematic ideologies conflict as often as the animals do.

From Salon ● May 3, 2026

He’s spent a career traveling to far-flung and sometimes dangerous regions for Chevron—Angola, Mexico, Colombia—navigating regimes of varying political ideologies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026

The document stated, “We may borrow . . . from foreign ideologies, but we reject the wholesale importation of foreign ideologies into Africa.”

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

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