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
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Layered Necklaces Instead of taking one off, embrace a more-is-more mindset and layer one more on. Christina Holevas, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2026 Valuing team success over individual stats is the exact type of mindset Dykes and the staff were looking for from Carroll, who will likely serve as the quarterback of the defense. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026 Nature, Nurture, and the Ability to Overcome Walking a slackline takes a certain mindset—part natural, part trained. Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026 An offense with a collective mindset can protect guys who are going through some slumps. Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 25 Mar. 2026 But that football mindset hasn’t fully extended to coaching hot seats. Justin Williams, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 That mindset is influencing how classic pieces are styled across the board. Katie Ann Lehman, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2026 At its core, his approach remains consistent with the mindset that has shaped his career. William Jones, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026 Fans have indeed seen and supported Cyrus through such hair, clothes and mindset changes across the last two decades. Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mindset was in 1909

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Cite this Entry

“Mindset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mindset. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

Medical Definition

mindset

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

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