mindset

noun

mind·​set ˈmīn(d)-ˌset How to pronounce mindset (audio)
variants or less commonly mind-set
plural mindsets also mind-sets
1
: a mental attitude or inclination
politicians trying to determine the mindset of voters
It isn't only the freshness of the fruit that makes breakfast in California restaurants outstanding. It's an attitude, a morning mindset, a desire to start the day in a leisurely, luxurious manner.Jane and Michael Stern
2
: a fixed state of mind
His mind-set does not allow for new situations.
The German military thought they were being honorable, and this wasn't an excuse—this was their complete mindset.William Vollman

Examples of mindset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The diet culture mindset that fat is bad picked up steam in the 80s and 90s, but certain fats are essential to the human body. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024 How did being on location in Auschwitz impact your performance or your mindset during the shoot? Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024 Pausing to think about the pros and cons of delaying a task or breaking unpleasant tasks into manageable pieces might help shift your mindset. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 8 Mar. 2024 Perhaps this all sounds too heavy for a comedy, but Torres finds the whimsy in Ale’s plight through fantastical sequences depicting his mindset. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2024 With that entrepreneurial mindset, Lindsay majored in business at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, a historically Black college outside of Philadelphia. Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Rather than perpetuating a taboo, healthy companies address the subject early, identify the specific mindset of each individual, and gently guide them towards a different and more constructive future. Graham Ward, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 This can build a growth mindset in your kids, which is essential for navigating academic and social challenges. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 Was that a linear process for you, having to get something out on that first album in order to settle into the mindset of this one? Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mindset.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mindset was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near mindset

Cite this Entry

“Mindset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mindset. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

mindset

noun
mind·​set
variants also mind-set
: a mental inclination, tendency, or habit

More from Merriam-Webster on mindset

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!