ideology

ideology — noun

1. A connected set of beliefs and ideas that a person, group, or political system u

1.nounB2
Definition

A connected set of beliefs and ideas that a person, group, or political system uses as the basis for its economic or political decisions and actions.

Example

Ishaan's political ideology led him to join the environmental campaign.

countable: a political ideology

The country's education system was rebuilt around a new ideology after the war.

uncountable: new ideology as guiding force

Common collocations
  • political ideology
  • economic ideology
  • free-market ideology
  • socialist ideology
  • capitalist ideology
  • party ideology
  • ruling ideology
  • dominant ideology
  • competing ideologies
  • traditional ideology
Synonyms
  • doctrine

    More formal and often tied to official teachings of a church or institution; ideology is broader and more commonly political.

  • worldview

    Broader in scope — covers a person's overall understanding of the world, not just their political or economic beliefs.

  • belief system

    More general and less academic; easier for learners to understand but slightly less precise.

  • creed

    More about personal conviction and often moral or religious; ideology is more about group-based political or economic principles.

Antonyms
  • action

    Ideology represents theory and belief; action represents what is actually done.

  • pragmatism

    Ideology follows fixed principles; pragmatism adapts based on what works in practice.

Grammar Patterns

the ideology of + noun

possessive + ideology

adjective + ideology

Usage Note

Countable when referring to specific belief systems (a socialist ideology, several competing ideologies). Uncountable when used as a general concept (ideology shapes policy). Frequently paired with political, economic, or revolutionary.

Common Mistakes

His ideology is that dogs are better than cats.
His personal opinion is that dogs are better than cats.
ideology refers to a broad system of beliefs about society or politics, not a single everyday preference.
She has a strong ideology about healthy eating.
She has strong views about healthy eating.
ideology is too formal and broad for personal habits or lifestyle choices.

2. Ideas or theories that are very general and not connected to practical life — of

2.nounC1
Definition

Ideas or theories that are very general and not connected to practical life — often used to criticise someone's thinking as unrealistic or overly abstract.

Example

Élise dismissed the professor's lecture as pure ideology with no useful suggestions.

negative connotation: pure ideology

Critics say the housing plan is built on ideology rather than actual evidence.

contrast: ideology rather than evidence

Common collocations
  • pure ideology
  • mere ideology
  • abstract ideology
  • dismissed as ideology
  • ideology without action
  • ideology rather than evidence
Synonyms
  • theorising

    Less negative and more neutral; focuses on the act of forming theories rather than dismissing them.

  • dogmatism

    More negative — suggests refusal to consider other views, not just abstraction from reality.

  • rhetoric

    Focuses on persuasive language rather than abstract ideas; implies empty words rather than impractical theories.

Antonyms
  • pragmatism

    Pragmatism focuses on practical results; ideology in this sense focuses on abstract principles regardless of outcomes.

  • realism

    Realism is grounded in observable facts and practical limits, the opposite of abstract theorising.

Grammar Patterns

pure / mere / abstract + ideology

dismissed as + ideology

ideology rather than / instead of + noun

Usage Note

Almost always uncountable. Carries a critical or dismissive tone — the speaker implies that the ideas are disconnected from practical reality. Common in phrases like pure ideology, mere ideology, or dismissed as ideology. Do not use this sense for neutral descriptions of political beliefs.

Common Mistakes

Her ideology on education reform is very thoughtful.
Her ideas on education reform are very thoughtful.
sense 2 carries a negative meaning, so using it would suggest you think her ideas are impractical.
The ideology of ancient Greece influenced modern democracy.
The philosophy of ancient Greece influenced modern democracy.
sense 2 implies unrealistic thinking; for a historical belief system use sense 1.

Word family

  • ideological
    adjectiveB2
  • ideologically
    adverbC1
  • ideologue
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Ideology, doctrine, worldview, creed, and philosophy all describe systems of belief, but they differ in scope and typical setting. Ideology is most common in political and economic contexts — it refers to the shared principles that guide a group's decisions (e.g. socialist ideology, free-market ideology). Doctrine is more formal and often tied to official teachings, especially religious or military ones — a church issues doctrine, while a party promotes ideology. Worldview is broader and more personal: it covers how an individual understands the world, including their moral, spiritual, and cultural assumptions. Creed is a short, explicit statement of belief, often religious, and suggests strong personal commitment. Philosophy can refer to a system of thought about knowledge and existence, or more loosely to a guiding principle. In everyday political discussion, ideology is the most natural choice: you would talk about the ideology of a political party, not its doctrine or creed.

doctrine ↗worldviewcreedphilosophy ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • based on ideology
  • rooted in ideology
  • driven by ideology

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekFrenchEnglish

Ideology comes from French idéologie, a word created during the French Revolution (late 1700s) by combining Greek idea (form, pattern, thought) and logos (word, reason, study). It originally meant 'the science of ideas' — the study of where human ideas come from. Over time the meaning shifted from the study of ideas to the set of ideas themselves, especially political ones that shape how a group or society is run.