Definition of DOGMA (original) (raw)
1
a
: something held as an established opinion
especially : a definite authoritative tenet
b
: a code of such tenets
c
: a point of view or tenet put forth as authoritative without adequate grounds
2
: a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a church
Synonyms
Examples of dogma in a Sentence
The Saudi regime has tried to deflect questions about its management of the country … by supporting and spreading an uncompromising religious dogma. —
Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2001 He was known for his ability to burst the bubble of generally accepted dogma, to puncture it with data and detached observations. —Sherwin B. Nuland, New Republic, 19 Feb. 2001 It had long been biological dogma that whales were scarce in the open ocean, but the Navy was picking up whale songs thousands of miles from land. —Sharon Begley et al., Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2000 For in creating a cultural orthodoxy designed to combat racism, urban disorder, and a legacy of oppression, we subject ourselves to delusional dogma, the tyranny of conformity … —Gerald Early, Harper's, January 1997
These new findings challenge the current dogma in the field. the Catholic dogma of the bodily assumption of the Virgin Mary
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 inability of adults to produce new neurons was pretty much the central dogma of neuroscience until the 1960s. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025 Too much chasing after money and success, too much pandering to the popular taste, too much weight on ideology or politics or dogma of any stripe, and God, in the cogent phrase of Quincy Jones, walks out of the room. —Donna Tartt, Harper's Magazine, 2 July 2024 These observations, however, are always subsumed within religious dogma, whether Christian, Islamic, or Judaic. —Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025 This distinction is crucial to her work, which focuses on foundational truths rather than religious dogma. —Court Stroud, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dogma 
Word History
Etymology
Latin dogmat-, dogma, from Greek, from dokein to seem — more at decent
First Known Use
1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of dogma was in 1534
Dictionary Entries Near dogma
Cite this Entry
“Dogma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogma. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 30 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences
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