i·de·ol·o·gy

[ahy-dee-ol-uh-jee, id-ee-]
noun, plural i·de·ol·o·gies.
1.
the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.
2.
such a body of doctrine, myth, etc., with reference to some political and social plan, as that of fascism, along with the devices for putting it into operation.
3.
Philosophy.
a.
the study of the nature and origin of ideas.
b.
a system that derives ideas exclusively from sensation.
4.
theorizing of a visionary or impractical nature.
Origin:
1790–1800; ideo- + -logy; compare French idéologie

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Ideology is always a great word to know.
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an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
ideology (ˌaɪdɪˈɒlədʒɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n , pl -gies
1.  a body of ideas that reflects the beliefs and interests of a nation, political system, etc and underlies political action
2.  philosophy, sociol the set of beliefs by which a group or society orders reality so as to render it intelligible
3.  speculation that is imaginary or visionary
4.  the study of the nature and origin of ideas
 
ideological
 
—adj
 
ideo'logic
 
—adj
 
ideo'logically
 
—adv

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

ideology
1796, "science of ideas," originally "philosophy of the mind which derives knowledge from the senses" (as opposed to metaphysics), from Fr. idéologie "study or science of ideas," coined by Fr. philosopher Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836) from idéo- "of ideas," from Gk. idea (see
idea) + -logy. Meaning "systematic set of ideas, doctrines" first recorded 1909. Ideologue first recorded 1815, in ref. to the Fr. Revolutionaries.
"Ideology ... is usually taken to mean, a prescriptive doctrine that is not supported by rational argument." [D.D. Raphael, "Problems of Political Philosophy," 1970]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

ideology i·de·ol·o·gy (ī'dē-ŏl'ə-jē, ĭd'ē-)
n.
The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, a group, a class, or a culture.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
ideology [(eye-dee-ol-uh-jee, id-ee-ol-uh-jee)]

A system of beliefs or theories, usually political, held by an individual or a group. Capitalism, communism, and socialism are usually called ideologies.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
His skills were in the communication aspect and the beliefs and ideology.
It is an alternative ideology, and its advocates should be given as much chance
  to explain their beliefs as any other.
The ambiguity is such that some on the left now see a need to reclaim their
  ideology.
So when you think about these things, use logic and reason and not ideology.
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