ideology

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
ideology /ˌʌɪdɪˈɒlədʒi, ɪd-/

▶noun

• 1 (pl. ideologies) a system of ideas and ideals forming the basis of an economic or political theory.

  ■ the set of beliefs characteristic of a social group or individual.

• 2 archaic the study of the origin and nature of ideas.

– derivatives
ideological adjective,
ideologically adverb,
ideologist noun.

– origin C18: from Fr. idéologie, from Gk idea ‘form’ + -logos (denoting discourse or compilation).