ethos

noun

ˈē-ˌthäs 

: the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution

also : ethic sense 1d

Synonyms

• ethics
• morality
• morals
• norms
• principles
• standards

Examples of ethos in a Sentence

The company made environmental awareness part of its business ethos.

They are working to keep a democratic ethos alive in the community.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kaleidoscope’s success in scaling is partly due in part to an ethos of inclusivity. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 17 June 2024

Until recently, celebrated restaurants had adhered to a prevailing ethos of authenticity. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 15 June 2024

Cara, a new artist portfolio site, is still in beta testing but has sparked significant buzz among visual artists because of its proudly anti-AI ethos. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 15 June 2024

The hotel is the steward of over 1,000 acres of precious lowland tropical rainforest so sustainability is key to its ethos. —Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 15 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek ēthos custom, character — more at sib

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above