zeitgeist

noun

zeit·​geist ˈtsīt-ˌgīst  ˈzīt- 

variants often Zeitgeist

: the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era

Did you know?

Scholars have long maintained that each era has a unique spirit, a nature or climate that sets it apart from all others. In German, such a spirit is known as Zeitgeist, from the German words Zeit, meaning "time," and Geist, meaning "spirit" or "ghost." (This same Geist, when combined with poltern, meaning "to knock," led to the English word poltergeist referring to a noisy ghost.) It is common nowadays to read about something "tapping into" or "capturing" the zeitgeist, as doing so often entails popularity or profitability in appealing to a great many people, though sometimes the zeitgeist of a particular time and place is only recognized in hindsight, either due to nostalgia or with the benefit of (one hopes) greater wisdom.

Examples of zeitgeist in a Sentence

His songs perfectly captured the zeitgeist of 1960s America.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gap continues to tap into the cultural zeitgeist by collaborating with creative partners who bring fresh perspectives to its heritage designs. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 27 Mar. 2026

Every so often, Rachel Barber reports, a new set of economic buzzwords enters — or reenters — the zeitgeist. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

While ergonomic pillows are hardly a new invention, social media seems to be churning them back into the zeitgeist. —Kristine Thomason, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2026

Disney, after all, is synonymous with kids’ stuff, with make-believe, and sports tends to play a somewhat secondary role alongside all the zeitgeist-shaping IP. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

German, from Zeit + Geist spirit

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for zeitgeist

• enticed
• sufficed
• antichrist
• overpriced
• poltergeist
• sacrificed
• diced
• feist
• heist
• iced
• lysed
• priced

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