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View synonyms for

ethos

[ee-thos, ee-thohs, eth-os, -ohs]

noun

  1. 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.

  2. the character or disposition of a community, group, person, etc.

  3. the moral element in dramatic literature that determines a character's action rather than their thought or emotion.



ethos

/ ˈːθɒ /

noun

  1. the distinctive character, spirit, and attitudes of a people, culture, era, etc

    the revolutionary ethos

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ethos1

First recorded in 1850–55; from Latin ŧٳDz “character, portrayal of character,” from Greek êٳDz “custom, habit, disposition character”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ethos1

C19: from Late Latin: habit, from Greek
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It’s just more about her ethos and why she is like she is, why she’s so untrusting, why she’s short with people, doesn’t want to get close with anyone.

From

Rather than obsessing over fast growth, they embrace an ethos of exploration and creativity — along with a bit of humor.

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There is an old ethos of "use it or lose it" that may apply to cognitive tasks as well.

From

He hinted that if he doesn't see enough of that in the existing squad, he'll recruit players who will happily buy into that ethos of hard graft.

From

A makeshift DJ booth, assembled from a couple of upended shopping carts and some speakers, is at one edge of the checkerboard in the dimly lighted room, underscoring the general do-it-yourself ethos of Rosales’ aesthetic.

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When To Use

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.

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