dogma
n. C / Un. a set of beliefs that people are expected to accept as true without questioning them. It is often used to describe strict rules in a religion or a political group.
n. a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true. Often carries a pejorative connotation in secular contexts, implying an uncritical or narrow-minded adherence to tradition.
The political party refused to change its old dogma.
The scientist was careful not to let personal dogma interfere with the results of the experiment.
While the church maintains its core theological dogma, many modern practitioners seek to interpret these ancient tenets through the lens of contemporary social justice and scientific understanding.
From Latin dogma (“philosophical tenet”), from Ancient Greek δόγμα (dógma, “opinion, tenet”), from δοκέω (dokéō, “I seem good, think”). Treated in the 17th and 18th century as Greek, with plural dogmata. Compare decent.
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of rigid belief; countable when referring to a specific set of doctrines.