mind-set

British  

noun

1. the ideas and attitudes with which a person approaches a situation, esp when these are seen as being difficult to alter

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Explanation

Your usual way of thinking about the world is your mind-set. If you're dreading taking the SAT, remember that a positive mind-set will not only make you feel less stressed and more confident, but might even improve your test score. Your feelings, attitudes, and opinions about things make up your mind-set. You might have a pessimistic mind-set, always seeing the glass as half-empty and generally expecting the worst, or a hard-working mind-set, with a habitual focus on being a conscientious, dedicated worker. In the 1920s, the term was considered to be "educators' jargon," and defined as "habits of mind formed by previous experience."

Example Sentences

The old ways of thinking are increasingly ignored because they conflict with this gambling mind-set.

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

The culture is different, with more of a collective mind-set in Japan, and things there tend to revert to the mean.

From Barron's • Nov. 20, 2025

Having played as a striker in her youth football days, the 24-year-old's impressive passing ability, sharp vision and attacking mind-set come as no surprise.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2025

It’s a mind-set that goes against what retailers and consumers may be used to.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2025

We believed that the money-crazy mind-set was a big part of what was wrong with the world.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

• attitude
• demeanor
• frame of mind
• inclination
• mental state
• mood
• perspective
• philosophy
• point of view
• sentiment
• temperament