ideology
noun
ˌi-dē-ˈä-
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Ideology has been in use in English since the end of the 18th century and is one of the few words whose coiner we can identify. The French writer A. L. C. Destutt de Tracy proposed it as a term to designate the “science of ideas,” and in that sense the word was quickly borrowed into English. Though ideology originated as a serious philosophical term, within a few decades it took on connotations of impracticality thanks to Napoleon, who used it in a derisive manner. Such connotations are still present in some contexts, but the word today is largely used neutrally, most often to refer to a systematic body of concepts, and especially to the set of ideas and beliefs held by a particular group or political party.
Examples of ideology in a Sentence
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
Still, his government maintains some Chinese financial ties, including a standing currency swap with the People’s Bank of China, showing that pragmatism may temper ideology.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Eight candidates with differing ideologies, ranging from conservative to liberal, are vying for four open positions on the seven-member board of the Gardner Edgerton United School District 231 in southern Johnson County.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025
Indeed, allowing men but not women to have multiple spouses is clearly unequal and entwined with patriarchal ideology that positions women as subordinate or inferior to men.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ideology
Cite this Entry
“Ideology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ideology. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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ideology
noun
ˌid-
Medical Definition
ideology
noun
ˌid-
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