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ethos
[ ee-thos, ee-thohs, eth-os, -ohs ]
noun
- Sociology. the fundamental character or spirit of a culture; the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society; dominant assumptions of a people or period:
In the Greek ethos the individual was highly valued.
- the character or disposition of a community, group, person, etc.
- the moral element in dramatic literature that determines a character's action rather than their thought or emotion.
ethos
/ ˈːθɒ /
noun
- the distinctive character, spirit, and attitudes of a people, culture, era, etc
the revolutionary ethos
Word History and Origins
Origin of ethos1
Word History and Origins
Origin of ethos1
Compare Meanings
How does ethos compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
A sign on the wall sums up the hub’s ethos: “Come for the cars, stay for the vibes.”
Rigal and his team make a point of meeting with security and staff before every event to ensure that the ethos of welcoming all is maintained throughout the night.
And he reveals something about the American moneymaking ethos, which holds not even a dead body sacred.
In the short term, Owens’ exit is not likely to change the hard-charging journalistic values of the program, as many of his lieutenants share his ethos.
Yet for the Lakers’ role players, that ethos give a uniform vision for the style and effort in which they should play.
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More About Ethos
doesethos mean?
The ethos of a culture or society is its collective spirit or character—the fundamental or underlying beliefs and attitudes that influence its customs and practices.
Things sometimes said to have an ethos include countries (the American ethos of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), cultures and subcultures (the punk ethos), and eras in time (the counterculture ethos of the ’60s).
The word can also refer collectively to such beliefs and attitudes in a person.
The term ethos is also used as the name of a particular method of persuasion in which a person relies on their credibility or character when making an appeal or an argument. In this context, it is often discussed alongside logos (an appeal to logic) and pathos (an appeal to emotion).
Example: Our company ethos is based on creating a space where people of all backgrounds feel welcome and valued in the workplace.
Where doesethos come from?
The first records of the word ethos to mean the collective character of a society or culture come from the mid-1800s. It comes from a Greek word meaning “custom,” “habit,” or “character.” The word ethic, referring to a body of principles and values, is based on the same root.
dzٳԲ’s ethos is its character or general attitude—what it’s all about. A country’s national ethos involves its core values and is the driving force behind its culture. The ethos behind what’s called the “American Dream” is the notion that any American who works hard can achieve success.
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How isethos used in real life?
Ethos is especially used in the context of societies, countries, and cultures.
The American ethos of rugged individualism seems to be in conflict with empathy, especially in times of extreme polarization. Wonder if any political psychologists or sociologists have ever studied this?
— Bill Bua (@billlaurelmd)
On , I urge all citizens to celebrate the ethos of democracy. Exercise your right & vote to strengthen our great nation.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal)
I'm the daughter of an immigrant so working hard is what I was raised to believe. Therapy the last few months has highlighted how my father living with survival at the core had become my ethos, too—despite me having the privilege to prioritize rest & self-care.
— Nneka M. Okona 🇳🇬 (@afrosypaella)
Try usingethos!
Is ethos used correctly in the following sentence?
This way of doing business goes against my entire ethos.
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