mentality

noun

men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈta-lə-tē 

plural mentalities

1

: mental power or capacity : intelligence

2

: mode or way of thought : outlook

… the imperialist mentality of the nineteenth century.

—John Davies

Synonyms of mentality

• sense
• intelligence
• intellect
• reason

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

This is the new era of family planning emerging across the Bay Area, a place known for its concentration of extreme wealth, high risk tolerance, affinity for new technology, and early-adopter mentality. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025

Long-term thinking fuels a giver’s mentality, a leadership posture centered on sharing insights, developing others, elevating cross-functional partners, strengthening trust and building customer relationships measured not by quarters but by decades. —Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025

QAnon mentality But the most important reason the Epstein story tops our national agenda is that the QAnon mentality has taken over America. —David Brooks, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025

One big characteristic of the Arab mentality is that things are repeated all the time. —Martin Dale, Variety, 22 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mentality

• bunker mentality
• herd mentality
• siege mentality
• victim mentality

Rhymes for mentality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• legality

Kids Definition

mentality

noun

men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈtal-ət-ē 

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 

plural mentalities

1

: mental power or capacity

2

: mode or way of thought