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In Greek, ēthos means “custom” or “character.” As originally used by Aristotle, it referred to a person’s character or personality, especially with respect to a balance between passion and caution. In English, ethos is used today to refer to the practices or values that distinguish one person, organization, or society from others. In rhetoric, ethos is often studied alongside pathos and logos as a technique to successfully persuade an audience. Related terms in the English language include ethics (“a branch of philosophy dealing with what is morally right or wrong”) and ethology (“a branch of knowledge dealing with human character and with its formation and evolution”).
Examples of ethos in a Sentence
Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Leider wasted no time in articulating his ethos, one that would come to permeate Artforum.
—News Desk, Artforum, 19 Jan. 2026
Granted, nothing will ever be as grandiose, addictive and surprising as the fantasy universe that brought us White Walkers, the Red Queen and the Faceless Man, but to pull out the magical realism, then fill the gaps with Dunk’s sincerity and honor-above-skill ethos is not a winning strategy.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Stone Island is doubling down on its research-intensive ethos at Milan Fashion Week, unveiling a new iteration of its Prototype Research Series.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 16 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Ethos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethos. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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