doctrine

noun

ˈdäk-trən How to pronounce doctrine (audio)
Definition of doctrinenext
1
as in theology
a statement or body of statements concerning faith or morals proclaimed by a church the Catholic Church's doctrine on the Eucharist

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ideology
the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group the doctrine of quantum physicists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of doctrine Strict liability is a legal doctrine in which a company or person is held responsible for causing harm irrespective of any negligence or any intention. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 Citing Catholic doctrine revised under his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo emphasized that the death penalty violates human dignity. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Brady pointed to a legal doctrine known as laches, which can prevent a party from pursuing a claim after an unreasonable delay that prejudices another party. — Gino Vicci, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 For Ted Baehr, having a woman portray Aslan is a direct challenge to Christian doctrine on the nature of God. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for doctrine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doctrine
  1. theology
  2. ideology
  3. principle
  4. philosophy
  5. dogma
Noun
  • Leo’s handling of his cancer is in many ways textbook American-style corporate good governance, applied to the Catholic Church, said Julie Rubio, a professor of Christian social ethics at the Jesuit school of theology at Santa Clara University.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Magic needs no congregation, clergy or theology, so believers can adopt it without leaving their church.
    — Ruiqian Li, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of theology
Noun
  • The directory identifies each group's mission, ideology, organizational role and documented protest activity, distinguishing direct organizers and participants from supporters and amplifiers.
    — Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Her decision to vote for Eisenkot wasn’t easy in a place where Likud support is a matter of identity more than ideology.
    — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of ideology
Noun
  • This principle is similar to how a fish uses its fins and tail to swim.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Wright Flyer stayed airborne for only seconds during its first flight, but the underlying engineering principles helped make powered aviation practical.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of principle
Noun
  • David Standridge’s philosophy is all about harvesting what’s plentiful and turning it into something delicious.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • This time, master perfumer Dominique Ropion and perfumer Meabh McCurtin set out to create a classic, enduring fragrance, steering clear of fleeting trends—an approach consistent with Merit’s philosophy for Retrospect.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of philosophy
Noun
  • By many accounts, the doc branch’s preferences hardened into dogma after what happened in the 2021 season.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Boards would be well served to keep the succession yardsticks focused on genuine performance metrics rather than fact-free dogma related to CEO age, longevity or tenure.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of dogma

Browse Nearby Words

doctrinal
doctrine
doctrines
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Cite this Entry

“Doctrine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doctrine. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on doctrine

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about doctrine

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