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ideology

 - 6 dictionary results

i⋅de⋅ol⋅o⋅gy

  [ahy-dee-ol-uh-jee, id-ee-]
–noun, plural -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.
Use ideology in a Sentence
Origin:
1790–1800; ideo- + -logy; cf. F idéologie
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To ideology
i·de·ol·o·gy   (ī'dē-ŏl'ə-jē, ĭd'ē-)   
n.   pl. i·de·ol·o·gies

  1. The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, group, class, or culture.

  2. A set of doctrines or beliefs that form the basis of a political, economic, or other system.


[French idéologie : idéo-, ideo- + -logie, -logy.]
i'de·ol'o·gist n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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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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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ide·ol·o·gy
Pronunciation: "Id-E-'äl-&-jE, "id-
Variant: also ide·al·o·gy /-'äl-&-jE, -'al-/
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -gies
1 : a systematic body of concepts especially about human life orculture
2 : a manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture —ideo·log·i·cal also idea·log·i·cal /"Id-E-&-'läj-i-k&l/ adjective —ideo·log·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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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