ideology

Where does the word "ideology" come from? It comes from Greek idea, passing through French before entering English (1796).

Ideology’s story begins in Greek: idea meant “form, idea.” Greek, from 'idein', to see. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as idéologie. Coined by Destutt de Tracy in 1796. It reached English by 1796 as ideology. Napoleon mocked 'ideologues', giving the political sense. Today, ideology means a system of ideas and ideals.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient idea "form, idea", Greek, from 'idein', to see.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s idéologie "science of ideas", coined by Destutt de Tracy in 1796.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1796 ideology "science of ideas", Napoleon mocked 'ideologues', giving the political sense.