doc·trine

[dok-trin]
noun
1.
a particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion or government: Catholic doctrines; the Monroe Doctrine.
2.
something that is taught; teachings collectively: religious doctrine.
3.
a body or system of teachings relating to a particular subject: the doctrine of the Catholic Church.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French < Latin doctrīna teaching, equivalent to doct(o)r doctor + -īna -ine2

self-doc·trine, noun


1. tenet, dogma, theory, precept, belief.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To doctrine
00:10
Doctrine is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
Collins
World English Dictionary
doctrine (ˈdɒktrɪn) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a creed or body of teachings of a religious, political, or philosophical group presented for acceptance or belief; dogma
2.  a principle or body of principles that is taught or advocated
 
[C14: from Old French, from Latin doctrīna teaching, from doctor see doctor]
 
doctrinal
 
adj
 
doctrinality
 
n
 
doc'trinally
 
adv
 
'doctrinism
 
n
 
'doctrinist
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

doctrine
late 14c., from O.Fr. doctrine (12c.), from L. doctrina "teaching, body of teachings, learning," from doctor "teacher" (see doctor).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

doctrine

the explication and officially acceptable version of a religious teaching. The development of doctrines and dogmas has significantly affected the traditions, institutions, and practices of the religions of the world. Doctrines and dogmas also have influenced and been influenced by the ongoing development of secular history, science, and philosophy.

Learn more about doctrine with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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Example sentences
It's an unwritten rule: each president gets one foreign policy doctrine.
The essential elements in this doctrine appear to be four.
Combination warfare has already begun, though it has yet to be codified in
  military doctrine.
His criticism of the doctrine was first thrown out in conversation with his
  father.
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