zeitgeist

noun

zeit·geist ˈtsīt-ˌgīst

ˈzīt-

often capitalized

: the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era

Did you know?

Scholars have long maintained that each era has a unique spirit, a nature or climate that sets it apart from all others. In German, such a spirit is known as Zeitgeist, from the German words Zeit, meaning "time," and Geist, meaning "spirit" or "ghost." (This same Geist, when combined with poltern, meaning "to knock," led to the English word poltergeist referring to a noisy ghost.) It is common nowadays to read about something "tapping into" or "capturing" the zeitgeist, as doing so often entails popularity or profitability in appealing to a great many people, though sometimes the zeitgeist of a particular time and place is only recognized in hindsight, either due to nostalgia or with the benefit of (one hopes) greater wisdom.

Examples of zeitgeist in a Sentence

His songs perfectly captured the zeitgeist of 1960s America.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

With so much discourse about personal style in the zeitgeist, Joan Baez serves as a shining example of cutting your own sartorial path. —

Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025 Twin Peaks marked both the apogee of Lynch’s career as a popular influencer and a turning point in his ability to tap into the zeitgeist. —

Stephen Galloway, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025 Hollywood studios have conceded (after mass experimentation during the early days of COVID) that a theatrical release is vital for propelling a film into the zeitgeist, and thus boosting ancillary revenues like PVOD. —

Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 9 Jan. 2025 Don't get caught up in the zeitgeist; do your due diligence, ask the right questions and be realistic about what AI can do for you. —

Ken Carnesi, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for zeitgeist