Words / C1

YD-ee-uh-log/ˈaɪdiəlɒɡ/

An ideologue is a person who follows a set of political or social ideas rigidly: a party ideologue, market ideologues. Ideal (already in the dictionary) is a hoped-for standard, not a person; pragmatist sits loosely opposite. A creed on a slide is not a sampling frame.

Meaning

A person who follows a political or social belief system very strictly.

Examples

• “An ideologue’s preface does not fill an n; name the sources.”
• “An ideologue’s creed on the cover slide is not a sampling frame.”
• “Partisan is the milder twin. Doctrinaire is the close cousin. A creed is belief. A named list with a date is methods. Write the frame; hang the creed in the manifesto if you must.”

Good to know

A rigid believer in a doctrine. Contrast: ideal (already in the dictionary; not a person). A creed ≠ a frame.

Near in meaning

doctrinaire, partisan

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