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

Breslow, a former pitcher and Yale graduate, supposedly brought baseball know-how and a player’s mentality to the front office. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

The Charlotte Hornets coach is already impressed with the demeanor and mentality of Naz Reid, the player swapped along with draft pick compensation in the trade sending LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota. — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026

In the meantime, thankfully the US is energy independent with a 'drill baby drill' animal spirit mentality. — Sean Conlon,chloe Taylor,justina Lee,tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 22 July 2026

Leipzig’s playing style is about ball progression — similar to the mentality preferred by Glasner at Palace — and there would not be room in their side for a player who was not capable of carrying the ball or progressing the team down the pitch. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 21 July 2026

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