Definition

1. Noun:
   • A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior: An "attitude" is a complex mental state involving beliefs, feelings, and values that predisposes a person to act in certain ways.
   • A position of the body or manner of carrying oneself: An "attitude" can refer to a physical posture or the arrangement of the body and its limbs.
   • A theatrical or artificial pose adopted for effect: In performance or display, an "attitude" is a pose struck deliberately to create a specific impression.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Mental State):
  • She has a very positive attitude towards her new job.
  • Changing public attitude on this issue is difficult.
• Noun (Physical Posture):
  • The yoga instructor corrected my standing attitude.
  • He stood in an attitude of defiance, with his arms crossed.
• Noun (Theatrical Pose):
  • The model held a dramatic attitude for the photographer.
  • The actor's attitude on stage was both powerful and unnatural.

Advanced Usage

• "To strike an attitude": To adopt a deliberate, often exaggerated, pose or manner.
  • He struck a heroic attitude for the cameras.
• "Attitude problem": A phrase describing a person's persistent uncooperative or negative disposition.
  • The manager warned the employee about his attitude problem.

Variants and Related Words

• Attitudinal (adj): Relating to or based on attitudes.
  • There has been an attitudinal shift among voters.
• Attitudinize (verb, rare): To adopt or express a particular attitude, especially for effect.
  • The politician was accused of attitudinizing for the media.

Synonyms

• Mindset: A person's established set of attitudes.
• Disposition: A person's inherent qualities of mind and character.
• Posture: The position in which someone holds their body.
• Stance: The attitude of a person or organization towards something; also a physical standing position.

Related Phrases

• "With attitude": Having a distinctive, often assertive or aggressive style.
  • She delivered the speech with real attitude.
• "Attitude of gratitude": A conscious choice to be thankful.
  • He tries to maintain an attitude of gratitude every day.

Idioms

• "Cop an attitude": To behave in a rude, uncooperative, or defiant manner.
  • Don't you cop an attitude with me.
• "Wait-and-see attitude": A cautious approach where one delays judgment or action until more information is available.
  • Investors are adopting a wait-and-see attitude toward the new policy.

Noun

1. position of aircraft or spacecraft relative to a frame of reference (the horizon or direction of motion)
2. a theatrical pose created for effect
   • the actor struck just the right attitude
3. the arrangement of the body and its limbs
   • he assumed an attitude of surrender
4. a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways
   • he had the attitude that work was fun