ideological
AmericanOther Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ideological
First recorded in 1855–60; ideolog(y) + -ic + -al 1 ( def. )
Explanation
You can use the word ideological to describe shared ideas or beliefs, and the word breaks down to ideo- (not "idea," but close) and -logical. An ideological stand for equal rights made Rosa Parks stay in her seat at the front of the bus. Ideological is an adjective that describes political, cultural, or religious beliefs. An ideology is a body of ideas, and those who agree with the main idea of something take an ideological stand to support it. Unlimited freedom is a strong ideological belief in countries like the United States, and communism was once the ideological foundation in parts of Europe. Some follow ideological ideals that are logical, while others take stands that seem, well, idiotic or illogical, like racism.
Vocabulary lists containing ideological
100 SAT Words Beginning with "I"
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Intermediate, List 1
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This Week in Words: September 14–20, 2019
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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.
"Each part needs the other. Our voters aren't looking for ideological supremacy. They're looking for purpose and leadership."
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
If Vought is supplying the ideological vision, Mark Paoletta is supplying the legal architecture to carry it out.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
Officials said the increase was being driven by a mix of online threats, lone actors, ideological extremism, foreign adversaries and individuals experiencing mental health crises.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Angelo added that he wasn’t on an ideological mission.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Simply put, Washington had developed a view of both personal and national independence that was completely immune to sentimental attachments or fleeting ideological enthusiasms.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
