zeitgeist

noun

zeit·​geist ˈtsīt-ˌgīst  ˈzīt- 

often capitalized

: 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 other epochs. In German, such a spirit is known as Zeitgeist, from the German words Zeit, meaning "time," and Geist, meaning "spirit" or "ghost."

Examples of zeitgeist in a Sentence

His songs perfectly captured the zeitgeist of 1960s America.

Recent Examples on the Web

Secondhand marketplaces provide endless access to famed collections of the past—pieces that carry history and lore; are the footprints of a fashion house, and bona fide heirlooms that remain in the zeitgeist. —Megan O'Sullivan, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024

First, cats are arguably in the zeitgeist right now — for whatever reasons govern such things. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024

The debate over her latest album and movie shows why J.Lo has remained in the American pop culture zeitgeist for almost three decades. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2024

Also, notwithstanding the zeitgeist and issue-based dramas, these filmmakers are concerned about ordinary people’s day-to-day lives. —John Hopewell, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024

Fast-fashion chains like Zara and H&M peddled unisex pantomimes of these skinny upmarket styles, and before long, so did mass-retail behemoths like Old Navy and Target, signaling and consolidating small pants’ grip on the zeitgeist. —Jonah Weiner, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024

Once the alphas of advertising, their traditional television offerings were the only way for marketers to connect their brands to shows driving the cultural zeitgeist while reaching a mass audience. —Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024

With the songstress having taken over five years to carefully craft her Country masterpiece, Beyoncé’s process has shaped the cultural zeitgeist over the past three years. —Rivea Ruff, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024

Meme stocks entered the cultural zeitgeist during the pandemic when members of the subreddit community, r/wallstreetbets, decided to set their collective gaze on GameStop, the gaming retailer that had been closing stores due to sluggish sales. —Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

German, from Zeit + Geist spirit

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

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