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dogmatic

dog-MAT-ik /dɒɡˈmætɪk/

adjectiveC1GREGMATCAT

academicformal

Inclinating to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without considering evidence or other opinions.

Carries a distinctly negative charge, characterizing someone as narrow-mindedly stubborn about their beliefs.

The story behind the word. berasal from Greek 'dogma' (that which seems true, an opinion or decree), from 'dokein' (to seem or think). Originally applied neutrally to philosophical tenets, the adjective became negative during the Enlightenment to describe religious or political authorities who demanded obedience without questioning.

Word relationships

doctrinaire: Doctrinaire applies strictly to theoretical political or religious doctrines, whereas dogmatic applies to any rigid opinion.

open-minded: Open-minded implies willingness to consider new ideas and conflicting evidence.

Commonly confused with

pragmatic: Pragmatic means practical and adaptable; dogmatic means rigidly attached to official doctrine.

Word family

dogma (noun): A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertible truth.
dogmatism (noun): The tendency to lay down doctrines arrogantly.

Collocations

dogmatic approach
dogmatic stance
dogmatic insistence
dogmatic belief

Idioms & expressions

closed-minded

Example sentences

"Good scientists avoid dogmatic assertions and remain willing to revise theories when fresh evidence emerges." Scientific discourse

Memory hook

Dogmatic = like a stubborn dog guarding its bone, refusing to let go of its opinion. Dogmatic = rigid insistence on beliefs.

When not to use

Do not use merely to describe someone who is confident; dogmatic implies refusal to accept empirical facts.

Fun facts

In modern computer science, programmers jokingly call unyielding coding rules 'code dogma'.