-alis

of, relating to

Forms

-alis
-aris — Latin variant especially used when the stem already contained l, avoiding a repeated l sound.
-al — English ending borrowed through French or directly from Latin.
-ar — English ending continuing Latin -aris.

Origin

An older Latin adjective-forming suffix; its more remote ancestry is uncertain.

Note

Expresses a relationship without specifying its kind: material, place, purpose, and other connections are possible.

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adjective

doctrinal

DAHK-truh-nul/ˈdɑːktrənl/

Relating to official teachings or principles.

The catechist uses devotional pictures to give doctrinal instruction to the learner.

A Christian catechist teaches a connected set of beliefs using three clear devotional pictures, while an adult learner follows the same pictures in a small study booklet.

Etymology

doctrinLatinteaching; body of teachings

+alLatinof, relating to

Doctrina covered both teaching and what was taught as true. A body of such teachings became a set of accepted principles, so doctrinal describes matters concerning those principles.

In context

YourCalvinist (Podcast) with Keith Foskey12:45

Doctrinal beliefs on baptism, doctrinal beliefs on how someone's saved, and what you know, how those things are constituted.

Bow Tie Dialogue: The Restoration Movement

More examples

The church publishes a statement clarifying its doctrinal position.
The military manual outlines doctrinal changes in coastal defense.
Both parties share broad goals despite their doctrinal disagreements.

Forms

doctrinal

doctrine noun — An established teaching or set of principles.

doctrinally adverb — In matters of official teaching or principles.

Similar words

theological: Specifically concerns religious beliefs, not all systems of principles.
ideological: Concerns a system of ideas, especially political or social.