doctrine
C1Formal, Academic, Political, Military
Definition
Meaning
A principle or set of principles, especially about religion or politics, that is taught and believed by a particular group.
A stated principle of government policy, mainly in foreign or military affairs; a body of teachings or instructions in a branch of knowledge.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies an official, codified, or authoritative set of beliefs. Carries a stronger sense of established, systematic teaching than 'belief' or 'principle' alone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Slightly more common in US political/military discourse due to 'Monroe Doctrine', 'Truman Doctrine', etc.
Connotations
Neutral to formal in both. Can have negative connotations (rigid, dogmatic) depending on context.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, concentrated in similar formal/academic domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
doctrine of + NOUN (doctrine of predestination)doctrine that + CLAUSE (the doctrine that all men are created equal)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the doctrine of the mean (philosophy)”
- “the domino doctrine (historical, politics)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could refer to a company's core philosophical principles (e.g., 'the doctrine of customer-first service').
Academic
Common in theology, political science, philosophy, and law to denote a formal system of ideas.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used mainly in discussions of formal religion, major policies, or ideologies.
Technical
Essential in military science (e.g., 'airpower doctrine'), law (e.g., 'legal doctrine'), and theology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council sought to doctrine the new converts.
- He was doctrined in the ways of the sect.
American English
- The manual doctrines the correct procedures.
- They attempted to doctrine the recruits.
adverb
British English
- The group adhered doctrinally to the original texts.
- He argued doctrinally from precedent.
American English
- They interpreted the rules doctrinally.
- The decision was doctrinally sound.
adjective
British English
- The doctrinal differences were irreconcilable.
- A doctrinaire approach to policy.
American English
- Doctrinal purity was paramount.
- His views were seen as overly doctrinaire.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The church has a doctrine about helping the poor.
- He explained the basic doctrine of his political party.
- The Monroe Doctrine warned European powers against interfering in the Americas.
- A key doctrine of Buddhism is the avoidance of suffering.
- Strategic military doctrine evolved significantly after the Cold War.
- The legal doctrine of 'fair use' allows limited copying of copyrighted material.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DOCTOR (from Latin 'doctor', meaning teacher) who teaches a set of principles – that's a DOCTRINE.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE BUILDINGS ('the edifice of Marxist doctrine'), IDEAS ARE FOOD ('swallow a doctrine uncritically').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'доктрина' (точный перевод).
- Не является переводом для 'доктор' или 'докторантура'.
- В русском может звучать более идеологизированно/советско.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'doctrine' with 'dogma' (doctrine is the teaching; dogma is the authoritative, non-negotiable part of it).
- Using it as a synonym for any simple 'idea' or 'opinion' (too weak).
- Misspelling as 'doctine' or 'docktrine'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'doctrine' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While often used in religious contexts, it is equally common in military, legal, and political spheres (e.g., 'the Bush Doctrine', 'legal doctrine').
'Doctrine' refers to a body of teachings or principles. 'Dogma' is a subset of doctrine—it refers to those principles that are proclaimed as absolutely true and not to be disputed, especially by religious authority.
Yes. 'Doctrines' refers to multiple distinct sets of principles (e.g., 'the doctrines of various Christian denominations').
It is neutral but context-dependent. It can be positive (suggesting wisdom and structure) or negative (suggesting rigid, imposed beliefs). Words like 'doctrinaire' are usually negative.
Collections
Part of a collection
Philosophy and Ethics
C1 · 50 words · Philosophical concepts and ethical reasoning.