Did you know?
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
Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Amenities lean heavily into Banyan Tree’s wellness ethos.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2026
The candor gave him safe passage, to some extent, and he was protected, too, by his taste, which was too dix-huitième to send him into bed with anyone whose ethos was predominantly nineteenth-century.
—Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
As Martin recounts in her 2023 coffee-table missive Mamma Milano, the brand’s ethereal ethos was there from the start.
—Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ethos
Cite this Entry
“Ethos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethos. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
Copy Citation
