Etymology Map
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Ideology

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a system of ideas and ideals

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

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

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.