Meaning & use

doctrinaire

adjective·Advanced

Last updated

Rigidly attached to a theory or doctrine without regard for practical considerations.

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His doctrinaire approach to economics ignored the realities facing small businesses.

The committee rejected the doctrinaire proposal in favor of a more flexible plan.

A note on using this word

Originally a French noun for a political theorist who applied principles inflexibly; it entered English in the early nineteenth century.

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