doctrine

noun

doc·​trine ˈdäk-trən 

1

a

: a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : dogma

Catholic doctrine

b

: a statement of fundamental government policy especially in international relations

the Truman Doctrine

c

law : a principle of law established through past decisions

d

: a military principle or set of strategies

e

: something that is taught

2

archaic : teaching, instruction

Did you know?

The original doctrines were those of the Catholic Church, especially as taught by the so-called doctors (religious scholars) of the Church. But today a doctrine can come from many other sources. Old and established legal principles are called legal doctrine. Traditional psychiatrists still follow the doctrines of Sigmund Freud. Communist doctrine in the 1920s and ʼ30s was often the teachings of Lenin, which were then regarded in the Soviet Union as almost sacred. U.S. presidents have given their names to doctrines as well: In 1823 the Monroe Doctrine stated that the United States would oppose European influence in the Americas, and in 1947 the Truman Doctrine held that America would support free countries against enemies outside and inside.

Synonyms

• canon
• dogma

Examples of doctrine in a Sentence

The government was founded on a doctrine of equality for all people.

Many psychologists now question the doctrines of Sigmund Freud.

teaching religious doctrine to young people

Recent Examples on the Web

Conservatives charge that Chevron has given federal agencies too much regulatory power over Americans’ daily lives, and several justices have openly criticized the doctrine. —Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2023

Today, the conservative legal movement is almost uniformly opposed to the Chevron doctrine. —Matt Ford, The New Republic, 3 Oct. 2023

One case this term seeks to upend the 1984 precedent known as the Chevron doctrine that tells courts to defer to government agencies' reasonable interpretation of ambiguous federal law. —Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2023

The doctrine came under intense fire after a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd in 2020 by kneeling on his neck. —Kelli Smith, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023

In 2019, federal lawmakers tried to carve out one exception to the doctrine: giving soldiers, sailors and airmen a chance to sue for improper medical care. —Ian Shapira, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Sep. 2023

Depending on whether the copyright office authorizes the copyrightability of works generated by AI, with companies listing themselves as the owners under the work-for-hire doctrine, studios could turn to optioning a book and having AI write the screenplay. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2023

Under that doctrine, courts have historically rejected or dismissed cases questioning legislators’ decisions as non-justiciable ‘political’ questions, in service to the separation of powers. —Sabrina Haake, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2023

And the people who were the most hard-core fighters in those struggles tended to preach a very strict doctrine or vision of that religion. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin doctrina, from doctor

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing doctrine

• fairness doctrine
• castle doctrine

• fairness doctrine
• castle doctrine

Kids Definition

doctrine

noun

doc·​trine ˈdäk-trən 

1

: something that is taught

2

: a principle or the principles in a system of belief

doctrinal

-trən-ᵊl

adjective

doctrinally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Etymology

Middle English doctrine "instruction," from early French doctrine and Latin doctrina (both, same meaning), from earlier Latin doctor "teacher," from docēre "to teach" — related to docile, doctor

Legal Definition

doctrine

noun

doc·​trine ˈdäk-trən 

: a principle established through judicial decisions compare law, precedent

doctrinal

-trə-nəl 

adjective