indoctrination

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indoctrination" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically. Example: "The regime's focus on indoctrination was evident in the education system, where students were taught to accept the government's ideology without question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A stream of shocking images and Twitter hashtags, including #HitlerWasRight, amount, Arfi said, almost to indoctrination.

The Guardian

"Is it true that one can go to the Champs-Elysées in Paris, grab a woman's hand, and have sex with her any time he wants?" he inquires, as if hoping to confirm something heard in a sermon or indoctrination session.

The Guardian

Aren't faith schools just a form of indoctrination?

The Guardian - Opinion

From the subject who proclaims "the white race is the one that is discriminated against anymore" to the woman who admits that "this country has been dominated by white male indoctrination", Dow makes it hard to paint whiteness in broad strokes, and hard to dismiss racism as the anecdotal actions of a beleaguered few in the American south.

The Guardian - Opinion

The prime minister, Yoshiro Mori, is a self-confessed admirer of bits of the notorious 19th-century Imperial Rescript on Education, which paved the way, in the 1930s, for the mass indoctrination of Japanese children in emperor worship.Many parents worry that reforms will lower education standards.

The Economist

The accepted wisdom had been that Britain did not have a critical mass of extremists or a pervasive Muslim culture, and that the kind of long-term indoctrination that is needed to produce suicide bombers was therefore almost impossible.The bombers who struck on July 7th did not come from out of the blue.

The Economist

Which, if indoctrination of the girls works, seems a reasonable idea.

The Economist

Did you look at his suit JOHN HUBBERMilanImperial JapanSIR—I am astonished to read in your article on reforming Japan's schools ("Less rote, more variety", December 16th) that the 19th-century Imperial Rescript on Education was a notorious document, which paved the way, in the 1930s, for the mass indoctrination of Japanese children in emperor worship.

The Economist

Nor is religious indoctrination a big factor, Ms Argo insists; only a fraction of the alumni of hard-line madrassas in Pakistan and Indonesia engage in violence.

The Economist

The relentless indoctrination, one inmate later said, was nothing less than the "physical and mental liquidation of oneself .The country was, as Mr Dikotter puts it, well down "the road to serfdom"—literally so for farmers.

The Economist

That is why Iraq fell apart into Sunni, Shia and Kurdish fragments after the removal of Saddam despite decades of patriotic indoctrination.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "indoctrination" when you want to emphasize the uncritical acceptance of beliefs, often in a negative or manipulative context.

Common error

Avoid using "indoctrination" when a more neutral term like "education" or "training" is more appropriate. "Indoctrination" carries a negative connotation, so using it in a neutral situation can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "indoctrination" is as a noun, referring to the act of teaching or instilling beliefs uncritically. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable term in written English. It often serves as the subject or object of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Indoctrination" is a noun that refers to the process of teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically, often with a negative connotation. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media and science contexts. While synonyms like "brainwashing" and "conditioning" exist, "indoctrination" is best used when emphasizing the uncritical acceptance of beliefs. Be mindful of its negative implication and avoid overuse in neutral situations. The term is deemed a correct usage and is very common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indoctrination

The action of teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically

brainwashing

Implies a more forceful and coercive form of instilling beliefs.

conditioning

Focuses on behavioral modification through repeated exposure.

ideological conditioning

Emphasizes the ideological aspect of instilling beliefs.

propaganda

Refers to the dissemination of biased information to influence public opinion.

persuasion

Suggests a more subtle and reasoned approach to influencing beliefs.

cultivation of belief

Formal and high level way of expressing indoctrination

instruction

General term for teaching or imparting knowledge.

teaching

Similar to instruction, but often implies a more structured educational setting.

training

Focuses on developing specific skills or abilities.

FAQs

How is "indoctrination" different from education?

"Indoctrination" implies teaching someone to accept beliefs uncritically, whereas education aims to foster critical thinking and independent judgment.

What are some synonyms for "indoctrination"?

Synonyms for "indoctrination" include "brainwashing", "conditioning", and "propaganda", though each carries slightly different connotations.

In what contexts is the term "indoctrination" commonly used?

The term "indoctrination" is often used in contexts related to politics, religion, and education, particularly when discussing the transmission of beliefs and values.

Is "indoctrination" always a negative thing?

While the term "indoctrination" often carries a negative connotation, it can also refer to the process of instilling fundamental values and beliefs necessary for societal cohesion.