noun
ideology
eye-dee-OL-uh-jee
noun
1
A connected set of beliefs, values, or principles held by a person, group, or movement, especially a political one.
"Communism and capitalism are two very different economic ideologies."
"The party's ideology hasn't changed much in fifty years."
How to Use Ideology
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA whole belief system, usually political, that guides how a person or group thinks and acts.
Common pairings
political ideology
shared ideology
driven by ideology
Word Forms
ideologies plural
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Etymology
Coined in French in 1796 by Antoine Destutt de Tracy from idéo- + -logie. Napoleon later twisted the related word "ideologue" into an insult for his political opponents, which is partly why "ideology" can carry a negative tone today.
Rhymes for ideology
eulogy
apology
zoology
biology
ecology
analogy
geology
trilogy
theology
oncology
pathology
mythology
See all rhymes for ideology →