attitude

noun

at·​ti·​tude ˈa-tə-ˌtüd 

-ˌtyüd

1

: the particular way a person thinks or feels about something or someone

her attitude towards life

attitudes about race/gender

historical attitudes towards women

I don't understand your attitude to money.

… took a decidedly more progressive attitude than our parents.

—Alice Walker

often, specifically : an attitude of a given kind shown by a person's behavior

an employee with a positive attitude

… his vaguely mocking attitude …

—Grace Lin

… has the right attitude for finding future success.

—Matt Stahl

2

a

: a negative or hostile state of mind

I suggest you get rid of that attitude and shape up.

b

: a cool, cocky, defiant, or arrogant manner

gave the teacher some attitude

… showed some attitude with her strut on the catwalk …

—Steve Virgen

3

: the arrangement of the parts of a body or figure : posture

depicted her in a reclining attitude

4

: a physical position assumed for a specific purpose

assumed a threatening attitude

5

: a bodily state of readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a stimulus (such as an object, concept, or situation)

The attitude of the organism toward the environment changes as it acquires new habits of action.

—John Dewey

6

: a ballet position similar to the arabesque in which the raised leg is bent at the knee

7

: the position of a craft (such as an aircraft or spacecraft) determined by the relationship between its axes and a reference datum (such as the horizon or a particular star)

Synonyms of attitude

• stance
• posture

Examples of attitude in a Sentence

He has a positive attitude about the changes.

She's friendly and has a good attitude.

You need to change your bad attitude.

There's been a change in his attitude since his accident.

I don't know what her problem is. She has a real attitude.

I suggest you get rid of that attitude and shape up.

He was showing some attitude during practice today, so the coach benched him.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tuesday's losses by the GOP could be viewed as a barometer for voter attitudes ahead of the 2026 midterms, reflecting broader dissatisfaction among core Republican constituencies and raising questions about the party's direction and messaging. —Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

The potential international fallout from that attitude came through in a recent meeting of the International Maritime Organization, when US officials successfully campaigned to kill plans to impose a carbon fee on shipping. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2025

The store, at 30–31 Long Acre, reopens officially on Friday with a shop floor that’s full of attitude, with a sophisticated edge. —Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025

Pelosi's popularity in the city had remained high, even as popular attitudes began to turn against having octogenarians in high office. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Italian attitudine, literally, aptitude, from Late Latin aptitudin-, aptitudo fitness — more at aptitude

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing attitude

• attitude problem
• cop an attitude

Rhymes for attitude

• altitude
• amplitude
• aptitude
• barbecued
• certitude
• desuetude
• devalued
• finitude
• fortitude
• gratitude
• interlude
• interviewed

Kids Definition

attitude

noun

at·​ti·​tude ˈat-ə-ˌt(y)üd 

1

: a position of the body or a figure : posture

2

: a particular feeling or way of thinking about something

3

: the position of something in relation to something else

Medical Definition

attitude

noun

at·​ti·​tude ˈat-ə-ˌt(y)üd 

1

: the arrangement of the parts of the body : posture

2

a

: a mental position with regard to a fact or state

b

: a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state

3

: an organismic state of readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a stimulus (as an object, concept, or situation)