ideologically

IPA/ˌaɪdɪəlˈɒdʒɪkli/
KK[ˌaɪdiəlˈɑdʒɪkli]IPA/ˌaɪdiːəlˈɑːdʒɪkliː/

ideologically — adverb

1. according to a shared system of political, economic, or social beliefs, rather t

1.adverbB2
Definition

according to a shared system of political, economic, or social beliefs, rather than from a practical or evidence-based perspective

Example

The two parties are ideologically opposed on nearly every major issue.

collocation: ideologically opposed

Mei-Lin agreed with the proposal ideologically but had practical concerns about the cost.

adverb modifying verb: agreed ... ideologically

Common collocations
  • ideologically opposed
  • ideologically driven
  • ideologically divided
  • ideologically aligned
  • ideologically committed
  • ideologically motivated
Synonyms
  • politically

    more specific — refers to politics rather than broad belief systems

  • philosophically

    broader — can include personal values not tied to a group system

Antonyms
  • practically

    opposite in the sense of being driven by real-world needs rather than beliefs

Grammar Patterns

adverb modifying adjective or past participle

adverb at start of clause or before verb

Usage Note

Commonly pairs with past participles such as 'opposed', 'driven', 'divided', 'aligned', 'committed', and 'motivated'. The adverb typically appears before the adjective or participle it modifies, though it can also appear after the verb.

Common Mistakes

The two leaders are ideological opposed on this issue.
The two leaders are ideologically opposed on this issue.
Use the adverb form 'ideologically', not the adjective 'ideological', to modify the past participle 'opposed'.

ideologically — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe belief systems or ways of thinking, but they differ in scope and context. 'Ideological' is the most specific — it refers to a fixed set of political, economic, or social beliefs that a group follows, such as Marxist ideology or free-market ideology. 'Political' is narrower, focusing on government, power, and policy rather than broad belief systems (e.g., 'a political decision' may have nothing to do with ideology). 'Philosophical' is broader, covering personal values, ethics, and worldviews that may not be tied to any group. 'Doctrinal' is more formal and implies a system of principles officially taught by a church, party, or institution. 'Theoretical' contrasts with practical and does not require a belief system at all — a theoretical discussion could be purely scientific. Example: 'The ideological divide between the parties shaped their political strategies, but the debate also had a philosophical dimension about fairness.'

ideological ↗political ↗philosophical ↗doctrinal ↗theoretical ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ideological difference
  • ideological divide
  • ideological shift
  • ideological basis
  • ideological foundations
  • ideological roots
  • ideological debate
  • ideological argument
  • ideological commitment
  • ideological split

Adverbs

  • ideologically committed
  • ideologically opposed
  • ideologically driven
  • ideologically divided
  • ideologically aligned
  • purely ideological
  • strictly ideological

Phrases

  • on ideological grounds
  • from an ideological standpoint
  • on the ideological spectrum
  • an ideological battle

Prepositions

  • ideologically opposed to
  • ideologically aligned with
  • ideologically divided on
  • ideologically committed to

Etymology

GreekFrenchEnglish

The word comes from French 'idéologie', which was coined during the French Revolution (1796) by philosopher Antoine Destutt de Tracy. He combined Greek 'idea' (form, pattern, concept) with '-logy' (study of, branch of knowledge) to create a word meaning 'the science of ideas.' The meaning later shifted from the study of where ideas come from to the shared set of beliefs that define a political or social group. The adjective 'ideological' appeared in English in the early 1800s, and the adverb 'ideologically' followed shortly after.