Ideology
ˌaɪdiˈɒlədʒi
Definitions
A set of beliefs, values, and ideas that shape how a group of people, or society, views the world and functions.
ˌaɪdiˈɒlədʒi
A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Marxism is a powerful ideology that has influenced many political movements.
💡 Simply: Think of it as a 'team philosophy.' Like, if a sports team all agrees on how they should play the game, that's their team's ideology. Countries also have ideologies—different ways they think about things like government, money, and how people should live.
👶 For kids: It's like a group's special way of thinking about what's important and how things should be.
More Examples
She struggled to reconcile her personal beliefs with the prevailing ideology of her workplace.
The new government's policies reflected a conservative ideology.
How It's Used
"The country's political landscape is often shaped by competing ideologies."
"Understanding the prevailing ideology is crucial to analyzing social structures."
Idioms & expressions
Clash of ideologies
A conflict between different sets of beliefs or ideas.
"The Cold War was a clash of ideologies between communism and capitalism."
Ideological vacuum
A lack of a guiding set of beliefs or values in a society or individual.
"The rise of populism often occurs in an ideological vacuum where traditional beliefs have lost their influence."
From French *idéologie*, coined in the late 18th century by Antoine Destutt de Tracy, from Greek *idea* (idea) + *logia* (study of). Originally referring to the 'science of ideas,' its meaning evolved to encompass systems of thought, especially political or social.
The term gained prominence during the Enlightenment and was central to political and social debates of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'library' of 'ideas'—ideology.