Ideology

[ahy-dee-ol-uh-jee, id-ee-] /ˌaɪ diˈɒl ə dʒi, ˌɪd i-/

noun, plural ideologies.
1.
the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.
2.
such a body of doctrine, myth, etc., with reference to some political and social plan, as that of fascism, along with the devices for putting it into operation.
3.
Philosophy.

4.
theorizing of a visionary or impractical nature.
/ˌaɪdɪˈɒlədʒɪ/
noun (pl) -gies
1.
a body of ideas that reflects the beliefs and interests of a nation, political system, etc and underlies political action
2.
(philosophy, sociol) the set of beliefs by which a group or society orders reality so as to render it intelligible
3.
speculation that is imaginary or visionary
4.
the study of the nature and origin of ideas
n.

1796, “science of ideas,” originally “philosophy of the mind which derives knowledge from the senses” (as opposed to metaphysics), from French idéologie “study or science of ideas,” coined by French philosopher Destutt de Tracy (1754-1836) from idéo- “of ideas,” from Greek idea (see idea) + -logy. Later used in a sense “impractical theorizing” (1813). Meaning “systematic set of ideas, doctrines” first recorded 1909.

Ideology … is usually taken to mean, a prescriptive doctrine that is not supported by rational argument. [D.D. Raphael, “Problems of Political Philosophy,” 1970]

ideology i·de·ol·o·gy (ī’dē-ŏl’ə-jē, ĭd’ē-)
n.
The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, a group, a class, or a culture.
ideology [(eye-dee-ol-uh-jee, id-ee-ol-uh-jee)]

A system of beliefs or theories, usually political, held by an individual or a group. Capitalism, communism, and socialism are usually called ideologies.