ideology
C1Formal, Academic, Political
Definition
Meaning
A system of ideas, beliefs, and values that forms the basis of a political or economic theory, or of a group's worldview.
A set of doctrines or beliefs, often held implicitly, that shapes the thinking and goals of an individual, organization, or culture; can sometimes imply rigid or impractical theory.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term often carries connotations of being systematic, coherent, and sometimes abstract or dogmatic. It can be used neutrally to describe a belief system or critically to imply inflexibility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical in meaning and frequency. Minor differences may exist in political discourse specifics (e.g., 'Thatcherite ideology' vs. 'Reaganite ideology').
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be used critically in British political commentary ('mere ideology'), whereas in American discourse it can be a more neutral descriptor of a political platform.
Frequency
High frequency in both academic and political contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the ideology of [NP][NP]'s ideology[Adj] ideologyideology that [clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A clash of ideologies”
- “Ideology-driven”
- “To be blinded by ideology”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in discussions of corporate culture or marketing ('the ideology of consumerism').
Academic
Central term in political science, sociology, history, and cultural studies.
Everyday
Used in news and political discussions ('His ideology is very conservative').
Technical
In Marxist theory, refers to the set of beliefs that legitimizes the power of a ruling class.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The movement sought to ideologise every aspect of daily life.
- His writings are heavily ideologised.
American English
- The group worked to ideologize its members.
- It's a heavily ideologized version of history.
adverb
British English
- He is ideologically committed to free markets.
- The party is ideologically diverse.
American English
- She ideologically aligns with the progressive wing.
- They think ideologically, not pragmatically.
adjective
British English
- The ideological differences between the parties were profound.
- She made an ideological commitment to pacifism.
American English
- His decision was purely ideological, not practical.
- They are ideologically opposed to government intervention.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He has a strong political ideology.
- Communism is a famous ideology.
- Their ideology focuses on equality and social justice.
- I don't agree with the ideology of that political party.
- The candidate's ideology was a blend of economic liberalism and social conservatism.
- Critics argued that the policy was driven more by ideology than by evidence.
- The prevailing ideology of the era shaped everything from art to foreign policy.
- He embarked on a thorough deconstruction of the racist ideologies underpinning the colonial system.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: IDEA + -OLOGY (study of). An ideology is a structured study or system of ideas.
Conceptual Metaphor
Ideology is a lens (through which we see the world). Ideology is a foundation (upon which political systems are built). Ideology is a map (guiding political action).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'идеология' which is a direct cognate and carries the same core meaning. Be aware that in Soviet context, 'ideology' ('ideologiya') had a very specific, mandatory, state-enforced meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /ɪd.iˈɒl.ə.dʒi/. Using as a countable noun incorrectly ('an ideology' is fine, but 'ideologies' for multiple systems is correct). Confusing with 'idea' (an ideology is a system of many ideas).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'ideology' in its neutral, academic sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In academic and descriptive use, it is neutral. It acquires a negative connotation when used to imply rigid, impractical, or dogmatic thinking (e.g., 'blind ideology').
Yes. An individual's coherent and systematic set of political or social beliefs can be described as their personal ideology.
'Philosophy' is broader and more abstract, concerned with fundamental questions of knowledge, existence, and ethics. 'Ideology' is more specifically a system of political, economic, or social ideas, often aimed at driving change or justifying a status quo.
It is countable. You can have 'an ideology', 'two ideologies', 'many ideologies'. The uncountable form refers to the abstract concept ('a debate about ideology').
Collections
Part of a collection
Cultural Topics
B2 · 47 words · Analyzing culture, society and identity.
Philosophy and Ethics
C1 · 50 words · Philosophical concepts and ethical reasoning.
Social Theory
C1 · 47 words · Advanced vocabulary for sociology and social science.