mindset

noun

mind·​set ˈmīn(d)-ˌset 

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

And then take that same mindset and multiply it by millions of people. — Wyles Daniel, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

The therapist mindset assumes that employees’ reactions have meaning. — John Radman, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026

That’s the new mindset that Lee brings back to the Trasks, who were lost without him. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Just how much companies are spending to generate long-term growth on AI, and which companies can actually handle that capex load, are implicit in the flight to quality mindset. — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mindset

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• binet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Medical Definition

mindset

noun

mind·​set

variants also mind-set

ˈmīn(d)-ˌset 

: a mental inclination, tendency, or habit