Zeitgeist
Noun: * The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time. It refers to the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era.
The word "zeitgeist" is used to describe the characteristic set of ideas, tastes, and outlooks that define a specific historical period. It is a singular noun and is often used with the definite article "the." It is typically considered a formal or academic term.
- The zeitgeist of the 1960s was marked by a spirit of rebellion and social change.
- Her novel perfectly captured the zeitgeist of post-war optimism.
- To understand the art movement, one must first understand the zeitgeist from which it emerged.
- "to capture/catch/reflect the zeitgeist": To accurately represent or embody the spirit of the age.
- The film was a huge success because it managed to capture the zeitgeist.
- "the prevailing zeitgeist": Emphasizes the dominant or most common spirit of the time.
- His ideas were completely out of step with the prevailing zeitgeist.
- Zeitgeisty (adjective, informal): Having the qualities of or being in tune with the current zeitgeist.
- The brand's marketing campaign was very zeitgeisty.
- Spirit of the age
- Spirit of the times
- Climate of opinion
- Ethos of an era
"Zeitgeist" is a loanword from German, literally meaning "time-spirit" (Zeit = time, Geist = spirit). It is a conceptual term used in history, philosophy, and cultural criticism to discuss the collective consciousness of a period. It does not refer to a single event or person, but to a broader, often intangible, cultural atmosphere.
- the spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation