zeitgeist

noun

zeit·​geist ˈtsīt-ˌgīst How to pronounce zeitgeist (audio) ˈzīt- How to pronounce zeitgeist (audio)
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 Other facets of the Gen Alpha zeitgeist are more extreme. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 In recent years, artists have utilized a variety of methods to capture the zeitgeist. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024 Shoppers from all over the country, and even internationally, convened at the store to buy into the zeitgeist. Zoe Whitfield, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 To talk about things that are in the zeitgeist, to put issues out there that may not be handled or at least platformed on traditional broadcast television. Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024 Loewe’s blue-and-red striped polo shirt, first spotted on Rihanna and Hailey Bieber last spring, may have brought the sporty-chic look back into the zeitgeist, but thanks to a handful of labels as varied as Aimé Leon Dore, Wales Bonner, and Gucci, the preppy top has only continued to evolve. Kerry Pieri, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2024 This enduring appeal underscores a cultural zeitgeist where fame and expertise blend to create products that resonate with consumers on a personal level. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 At $7 million a pop, Super Bowl ads provide a unique window into the business zeitgeist of the moment. Alan Murray, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024 This happens all the time where suddenly an idea will be in the zeitgeist and then everyone is writing a volcano movie or whatever. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zeitgeist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, from Zeit + Geist spirit

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zeitgeist was in 1835

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Dictionary Entries Near zeitgeist

Cite this Entry

“Zeitgeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zeitgeist. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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