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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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yvlog 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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yvlog History and Origins

Origin of ethos1

C19: from Late Latin: habit, from Greek
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Compare Meanings

How does ethos compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Best noted the do-it-yourself ethos that ran through Maple’s work and life.

From

“Selena’s family felt very strongly that only a Latino filmmaker would be able to understand the culture, her ethos and the world she came from,” says Nava.

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But Caselotti didn’t just reference her character in her everyday life . . . she embodied her entire ethos.

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According to materials provided by Sundance Institute, the decision-making process included seven overarching focus areas: ethos, event capability, transportation, hospitality, inclusion and accessibility, financial sustainability and host partner support.

From

Without dialogue, there’s little to convince the reader — nothing that a Thoreau or a Næss might say to add rigor and ballast to the Colony’s rather flimsy ethos.

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More About Ethos

What 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.

dzٳ󾱲Բ’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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What are some synonyms for ethos?

What are some words that share a root or word element with ethos?

What are some words that often get used in discussing ethos?

How isethos used in real life?

Ethos is especially used in the context of societies, countries, and cultures.

Try usingethos!

Is ethos used correctly in the following sentence?

This way of doing business goes against my entire ethos.

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