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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bryan was the one to vocalise the mindset that everything, especially a Rooney goal, could now be ripe for marketing. Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 11 May 2025 As a result, many people never learned the skills or adopted the mindsets necessary to engage effectively in virtual interactions. William Arruda, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025 But for all her courthouse coups, Rice didn’t make a dent in the department’s mindset. Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025 Jim Cramer, however, cautions against investing purely based on the risk-on or risk-off mindset. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 10 May 2025 Even if the Dodgers likely communicated better with Betts than the Red Sox have with Devers, if the slugger shared Betts’ mindset there probably wouldn’t have been any controversy to begin with. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025 The idea that only a select few can call out falsehoods belongs to an ancien régime mindset. Will Fries, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025 State officials should do everything in their power to encourage that mindset. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2025 Also, members will experience detoxifying movements and core activation exercises, including calming breathwork and abdominal massage, while receiving a gut-friendly grocery list and mindset prompts designed to encourage lasting lifestyle shifts. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 8 May 2025

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 18 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

mindset

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

More from Merriam-Webster on mindset

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