doctrinal

UK: /dɒkˈtraɪn^əl/ US: (dok′trə nl; Brit. also dok trīn′l)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

doc•tri•nal  (dok′trə nl; Brit. also dok trīn′l), adj. 

1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with doctrine:
   a doctrinal dispute.

• Late Latin doctrīnālis, equivalent. to Latin doctrīn(a) (see doctrine) + -ālis -al¹
• late Middle English 1400–50

doc′tri•nal′i•ty, n. 
doc′tri•nal•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

doc•trine /ˈdɑktrɪn/   n. 

1. a particular principle, position, or policy taught, such as of a religion or government:
   [countable] The church teaches the doctrine of free will.
   [uncountable] knowledgeable about church doctrine.

doc•tri•nal, adj. [before a noun]

shifts in doctrinal policies.

See -doc-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

doc•trine  (dok′trin), n. 

1. a particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion or government:
   Catholic doctrines; the Monroe Doctrine.
2. something that is taught;
   teachings collectively:
   religious doctrine.
3. a body or system of teachings relating to a particular subject:
   the doctrine of the Catholic Church.

• Latin doctrīna teaching, equivalent. to doct(o)r doctor + -īna -ine²
• Anglo-French
• Middle English 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 1. tenet, dogma, theory, precept, belief.