Definition of IDEOLOGY

ideology

Plural: ideologies

Noun

  • A systematic body of ideas of a group, culture, or theory.
  • an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation
  • imaginary or visionary theorization
  • Doctrine, philosophy, body of beliefs or principles belonging to an individual or group.
  • The study of the origin and nature of ideas.

Examples

  • A dictatorship bans things, that do not conform to its ideology, to secure its reign.
  • His Scrabble ideology focused on blocking opponents rather than maximizing his own points.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from French idéologie, from idéo- + -logie (equivalent to English ideo- + -logy). Cognate with, but not derived from, idea. Coined 1796 by Antoine Destutt de Tracy. Modern sense of “doctrine” attributed to use of related idéologue (“ideologue”) by Napoleon Bonaparte as a term of abuse towards political opponents in early 1800s.

Synonyms

political orientation, political theory

Scrabble Score: 13

ideology: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
ideology: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ideology: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

ideology: valid Words With Friends Word