ideology
noun
ˌi-dē-ˈä-
Did you know?
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
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
It is designed to get Jew-hatred and racist ideology out of our schools, to protect all children and to ensure that Jewish children and educators — like everyone else — can learn and work in an environment free from harassment, intimidation or violence.
—Daniel Klein, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Task begins by setting up the parallels between Tom and Robbie, two flawed men trying to keep their heads above the water of their own miseries, cutting back and forth between their routines to emphasize their similar ideologies and spontaneities.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
While Return to the Land doesn’t identify as white nationalists, their statements often align with the ideology.
—Paul J. Becker, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 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 8 Sep. 2025.
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ideology
noun
ˌid-
Medical Definition
ideology
noun
ˌid-
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