ethos

noun

ˈē-ˌthäs 

: the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution

also : ethic sense 1d

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”).  

Synonyms of ethos

• principles
• norms
• standards
• ethics
• morals
• morality

Examples of ethos in a Sentence

The company made environmental awareness part of its business ethos.

They are working to keep a democratic ethos alive in the community.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yeah, that urgency and that freshness is in line with the ethos of the movie. —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025

The publisher asked for a guiding ethos from the Archie team and was told that Archie stories are told through a lens of what children think being a teenager is like. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 Dec. 2025

Gottlieb believes the spartan ethos of improv made a big mark on his former housemate. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 18 Dec. 2025

Writer-director James Cameron shares his ethos around character deaths in these movies with Entertainment Weekly ahead of this weekend's premiere in theaters. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek ēthos custom, character — more at sib

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!