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doctrinal

adjective

doc·​trin·​al ˈdäk-trə-nᵊl How to pronounce doctrinal (audio)
especially British
däk-ˈtrī- How to pronounce doctrinal (audio)
: of, relating to, or preoccupied with doctrine
doctrinally adverb

Examples of doctrinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the decree also comes amid a rise of polyamory in Western countries, which has generated pastoral and doctrinal questions for clergy and the faithful. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025 The cognitive dissonance problem Beyond the statutory and doctrinal debates, Wednesday’s argument revealed a striking tension between the administration’s courtroom position and the president’s own rhetoric. James Sample, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025 Great political filmmakers, by confronting not only the complacencies of popular political filmmaking but the doctrinal comfort zone of the art-house audience, revitalize their own art. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025 Necessary for doctrinal shifts—but needs to be grounded to avoid utopian overreach. Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for doctrinal

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doctrinal was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Doctrinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doctrinal. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.

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