dogma
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true, especially in a religious or philosophical context.
Any prescribed doctrine or belief system, often regarded as rigid and not to be disputed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term inherently carries a sense of authoritative imposition and lack of openness to questioning or evidence. It is often used critically to imply inflexibility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more common in religious contexts in the US due to higher religiosity; in the UK, more frequent in academic/philosophical critique.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
reject/challenge/question + dogmadogma + of + [ideology/religion]adhere to/be bound by + dogmaVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the dead hand of dogma”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May appear in critiques of rigid corporate culture ('We need to move beyond the old dogma of quarterly targets').
Academic
Common in theology, philosophy, history, and critical theory to discuss authoritative belief systems.
Everyday
Used to describe inflexible rules or beliefs, often in a critical way ('His views on parenting are just dogma').
Technical
In biology/medicine, can refer to long-held but potentially outdated theories (e.g., 'the central dogma of molecular biology').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A. The verb form is 'dogmatise'.
American English
- N/A. The verb form is 'dogmatize'.
adverb
British English
- He stated his beliefs dogmatically, leaving no room for discussion.
American English
- She argued dogmatically, ignoring all counter-evidence.
adjective
British English
- His approach was far too dogmatic for a proper debate.
- She rejected the dogmatic assertions of the manifesto.
American English
- The trainer's dogmatic methods frustrated the team.
- We need less dogmatic thinking in policy discussions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He never questions the dogma of his political party.
- Religious dogma is important to her faith.
- The scientist challenged the prevailing dogma in her field.
- The reform aimed to break free from the stifling dogma of the past regime.
- Their economic policy was driven more by ideological dogma than by empirical evidence.
- The conference exposed the inherent tensions between creative inquiry and theological dogma.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DOG named MAx who obeys every command without question. DOG-MA symbolizes unquestioned authority.
Conceptual Metaphor
DOGMA IS A CHAIN/RIGID STRUCTURE (shackled by dogma, imprisoned by dogma).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not to be confused with 'dogmat' (a rarer, direct cognate). The more common Russian translation is 'dogma' (догма) or 'dogmat' (догмат), but note the strong negative connotation in English is not always present in the neutral Russian usage in religious contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dogma' as a positive term (e.g., 'Our company's dogma is excellence' – sounds odd). Confusing with 'dog' or 'dogmatic'. Using plural 'dogmas' is correct but less common than uncountable use.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might the word 'dogma' be used NEUTRALLY or technically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Most often it is used critically to imply rigid, unquestioning belief. However, in neutral academic or religious descriptions, it can simply mean an authoritative principle without the negative judgement, though this is less common in everyday English.
'Doctrine' is a broader, more neutral term for a body of teachings. 'Tenet' is a single principle held within a belief system. 'Dogma' emphasises the authoritative, often incontrovertible, nature of the belief, carrying a stronger connotation of imposed truth.
Yes, 'dogmas' is grammatically correct and used (e.g., 'the dogmas of the church'), but the uncountable use is more frequent.
'Dogmatic'. It describes a person or stance that asserts opinions in an authoritative, arrogant manner, not open to dispute.
Collections
Part of a collection
Philosophy and Ethics
C1 · 50 words · Philosophical concepts and ethical reasoning.