ideologue

noun

ideo·​logue ˈī-dē-ə-ˌlȯg How to pronounce ideologue (audio)
-ˌläg
variants or less commonly idealogue
1
: an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology
2
: an impractical idealist : theorist

Examples of ideologue in a Sentence

as long as there are ideologues controlling both sides of the aisle, legislative compromise is out of the question the revolutionaries proved to be impractical ideologues who had no idea how to run a country
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Bay’s issues aren’t ideological and most of us aren’t wired as ideologues anyway. Russell Hancock, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025 But if Postecoglou is a staunch ideologue, Frank is a proud pragmatist. Elias Burke, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025 What is Jubilee hoping to accomplish by platforming radical perspectives and facilitating rage-bait blood sport, even between nominally well-meaning ideologues? Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025 The health and safety of our communities should not hang on the whim of a political ideologue. Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ideologue

Word History

Etymology

French idéologue, back-formation from idéologie

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of ideologue was in 1815

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Cite this Entry

“Ideologue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ideologue. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.

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