mentality

noun

men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈta-lə-tē How to pronounce mentality (audio)
plural mentalities
1
: mental power or capacity : intelligence
2
: mode or way of thought : outlook
the imperialist mentality of the nineteenth centuryJohn Davies

Examples of mentality in a Sentence

most teenagers do not have the mentality to foresee the consequences of such risky behavior
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Despite her many titles, from entrepreneur to author to working mom, DesRochers has built her businesses around a human-first mentality. Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2025 Dillingham is an excellent passer, but the shift in mentality from scorer to facilitator is taking some time to take root. Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 Christie and his players have said adopting his defense-first mentality will be a long process, especially with a roster featuring players known for offense like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2025 To be fair, the Brewers have bought into the underdog mentality all season. Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mentality

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mentality was in 1691

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Cite this Entry

“Mentality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentality. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

mentality

noun
men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈtal-ət-ē How to pronounce mentality (audio)
plural mentalities
1
: mental power : intelligence
2
: a particular way of thinking : outlook

Medical Definition

mentality

noun
men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈtal-ət-ē How to pronounce mentality (audio)
plural mentalities
1
: mental power or capacity
2
: mode or way of thought

More from Merriam-Webster on mentality

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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