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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The entrepreneurship program’s goal is to instill the culture of entrepreneurship into the mindset of young people. IEEE Spectrum, 17 May 2023 In its ninth-annual Modern Family Index (MFI), Bright Horizons surveyed over 2,000 adults who are employed with children under 18 to reveal the current mindset of working parents. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 17 May 2023 Some say California is a state of mind — and that mindset is alive and well on the other side of the world. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2023 His mindset was simple—just get out of the first inning. James Mueller, Chron, 10 May 2023 More baseball:The numbers and the mindset behind Nick Senzel’s strong 2023 season Related:Guy Fieri, Emilio Estevez and others surprise Jeff Ruby during 75th birthday bash The Cincinnati Reds beat the Mets 7-6 Tuesday in front of a crowd of 14,065 fans at Great American Ball Park. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 10 May 2023 With this mindset, teams pursue opportunities for improvement instead of symbolic activities that won’t deliver measurable results. Eddy Azad, Forbes, 4 May 2023 Changing your look to help to move you into a new mindset might be in order -- plus, whatever that new look is will be up to you. Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2023 Understanding that fragility and being vigilant can be a very potent mindset for liberals. Indigo Olivier, The New Republic, 10 Apr. 2023 See More

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 8 Jun. 2023.

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
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