zeitgeist

Advancedzipf 2.77

Pronunciation

/ˈzaɪtɡaɪst/(ZYTE-gyst)

Part of speech

nounformal

Chinese

时代精神

Definition

The defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.

Word family

  • (no common derivatives)

Collocations

  • capture the zeitgeist
  • reflect the zeitgeist
  • cultural zeitgeist
  • tap into the zeitgeist

Examples

  1. 1.The punk movement captured the zeitgeist of 1970s Britain — anger, alienation, and anti-establishment feeling. (spirit of the age)
  2. 2.Social media companies that tap into the zeitgeist grow fastest. (prevailing mood)

Synonyms

  • spirit of the age /ˈspɪrɪt/ (prevailing culture)
  • ethos/ˈiːθɒs/— characteristic spirit
  • mood/muːd/— prevailing atmosphere

Etymology

from German "Zeit" (time) + "Geist" (spirit) — the spirit of the times