ideological
- 1Relating to one or more ideologies: the systems of ideas that shape political or social beliefs.
The debate exposed sharp ideological divisions within the movement.
Scholars trace the group's ideological roots to nineteenth-century thinkers.
Similarpolitical, doctrinal, philosophical
Note
The neutral, classifying use: it sorts beliefs rather than judging them. Economists can sit anywhere on the ideological spectrum, and concerns can be ideological as opposed to pedagogical. It mostly comes before a noun, as in spectrum, fervor, assumptions and divisions. It carries no verdict, unlike the doctrinaire political meaning, where calling someone ideological is usually a charge.
- 2Marked by strict, uncompromising commitment to a particular political ideology, rather than to what is popular or practical.
Critics called the reform ideological, driven by doctrine rather than evidence of what works.
His ideological rigidity left no room for negotiation with rivals.
Similardogmatic, doctrinaire, partisan, rigid
Oppositepragmatic, practical, flexible
Note
Political commentary uses it for leaders, regimes and policies that hold to doctrine whatever the cost: an ideological trade policy, a regime ideological in governance. It works both before a noun and after a verb. It is gradable (more ideological, most ideological), so one government can be called more ideological than another. The implied contrast is always with the popular or practical choice.
- 3Irrational; sustained by misinformation and social reinforcement rather than credible evidence.
The panic proved ideological, fed by online rumors rather than any real data.
She dismissed the theory as ideological, more belief than evidence.
Similarirrational, unfounded, baseless
Note
Here the adjective passes judgment on a claim or idea itself: a belief kept alive by repetition and group approval rather than proof. Keep it apart from the doctrinaire political meaning, which describes leaders, regimes and policies bound to a program. In this sense the target is the reasoning behind a belief, and calling an idea ideological works as a dismissal.
Practice
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Origin
Formed from "ideology" combined with the suffix "-ical".