Definition of "doctrine"

doctrine

/ˈdɒk.tɹɪn/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural doctrines
1. (countable) A belief or tenet, especially about philosophical or theological matters.
2. (countable and uncountable) The body of teachings of an ideology, most often a religion, or of an ideological or religious leader, organization, group, or text.
  Quotations
  This one thing do we (compelled by your blaſphemous accuſations) repeat oftener then we would: to the end that indifferent men may ſee what doctrine it is, which you ſo maliciouſly impugne.
  1560, John Knox, An Answere to a Great Number of Blasphemous Cavillations Written by an Anabaptist, and aduersarie to Gods eternall Predestination, London: Thomas Charde, published 1591, page 95
3. (countable) A self-imposed policy governing some aspect of a country's foreign relations, especially regarding what sort of behavior it will or will not tolerate from other countries.