zeitgeist

[ zahyt-gahyst, tsahyt- ]

noun

1. Sometimes Zeitgeist. the spirit of the time; the general trend of thought, feeling, or tastes characteristic of a particular period of time:

   It’s one of those iconic novels that represents the zeitgeist of the mid-1990s so perfectly that reading it provides the ideal dose of nostalgia.

zeitgeist

/ ˈzaɪtˌɡaɪst /

noun

1. the spirit, attitude, or general outlook of a specific time or period, esp as it is reflected in literature, philosophy, etc

Zeitgeist

1. The general moral, intellectual, and cultural climate of an era; Zeitgeist is German for “time-spirit.” For example, the Zeitgeist of England in the Victorian period included a belief in industrial progress, and the Zeitgeist of the 1980s in the United States was a belief in the power of money and the many ways in which to spend it.

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeitgeist¹

First recorded in 1840–50; from German Zeitgeist, equivalent to Zeit “time, age, epoch” + Geist “spirit, mind, intellect”; tide ¹( def ), ghost ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of zeitgeist¹

C20: from German, literally: time spirit; see tide ¹, ghost

Example Sentences

The Democratic platform in 2024 became synonymous with abortion access, climate change and LGBTQ+ rights, top issues in the modern Golden State zeitgeist.

From Los Angeles Times

The actress believes Beth "has penetrated a zeitgeist in women specifically".

From BBC

There has just been an overwhelming feeling of discontent and unhappiness in the cultural zeitgeist for the past four years.

From Salon

I learned that he found out he was autistic in middle age but always thought he was neurodivergent, even if that term was not yet in the zeitgeist.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2022, Williams reemerged into the cultural zeitgeist on “The Crown,” portraying Camilla Parker Bowles over the final two seasons.

From Los Angeles Times

More About Zeitgeist

What does zeitgeist mean?

The zeitgeist is the collective attitude or outlook of people or a culture at a specific point in time.

Zeitgeist can be used in discussion of the current moment, a narrow period of time  in the past, or a broader period or era. Literature and other media are sometimes said to express the Zeitgeist of the time they were created in or of a past period of time. The word is capitalized in its original language, German, and is sometimes capitalized in English (Zeitgeist).

Example: The zeitgeist at the time was a feeling that anything was possible.

Where does zeitgeist come from?

Zeitgeist is borrowed from German and literally translates to “time spirit” or “spirit of the times.” It comes from the German Zeit, meaning “time,” and Geist, meaning “spirit” or “ghost” (as seen in poltergeist, which means “a noisy ghost”). The term was originally used by German philosophers in the 1800s, including Georg Hegel and Johann Goethe. One of its first known uses in English came in an 1848 book by British literary critic Matthew Arnold, who often discussed Goethe in his work.

Zeitgeist may still be used in philosophical discussions, but it is perhaps more popularly used in observations about what people are or were feeling during a particular moment of time. It is especially used in discussions of public attitudes and cultural shifts during past periods, which are easier to identify and analyze with hindsight. Sometimes it is applied to an entire era, such as the Victorian era, whose zeitgeist is often described as being focused on industrial progress. It is often applied to decades. For example, the zeitgeist of 1980s America is often said to have been a preoccupation with wealth and consumption. Sometimes, zeitgeist is used in discussion of how it changed, as in The free loving zeitgeist of the early ’60s was soon replaced with anxieties driven by assassination and war.

Zeitgeist is often used to discuss particular works of art that are considered to have skillfully represented the prevailing outlook of a certain time, such as books, music, and movies, as in The film perfectly captures the zeitgeist during the tech boom of the early 2000s.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of zeitgeist?

• zeitgeisty (slang, adjective)

What are some synonyms for zeitgeist?

• spirit
• climate
• outlook
• atmosphere

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

• zeitgeber 
• poltergeist

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

• era
• time
• moment
• general
• feeling
• culture
• trend

How is zeitgeist used in real life?

Zeitgeist is often used in observations about cultural trends and in statements about media that are said to have captured the overall feeling of an era.

It's always people with the least thought out, most generic designs that think people are ripping them off.

Just cause you dragged the lowest common denominator out of the zeitgeist doesn't mean you own it lol.

— Marissa Louise (@marissadraws) February 21, 2020

In my lifetime: Batman ‘89. Jurassic Park. Titanic.

Not just for the films themselves but the way they so totally defined the zeitgeist. They had to be released at exactly the right moment to hit the way they did. https://t.co/YiAIQzewBb

— Zaki Hasan (@zakiscorner) February 23, 2020

The pandemic zeitgeist gives me an opportunity to practice my favorite contact avoidance technique ever, the Ebola Elbow handshake

— Xeni (@xeni) February 26, 2020

 

 

Try using zeitgeist!

Is zeitgeist used correctly in the following sentence?

The musical zeitgeist of the 1980s was dominated by flashy performances and flamboyant fashions.