zeitgeist

[tsahyt-, zahyt-gahyst] / ˈtsaɪt-, ˈzaɪtˌgaɪst /

NOUN

spirit of the time

Synonyms

STRONG

climate outlook spirit trend

WEAK

ambience atmosphere disposition feeling flavor inclination leaning milieu movement tendency tenor tone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Such zeitgeist wins are harder to come by now with everyone focused on their phones.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

But its ineffectual japing, and Michaels’ inability to help himself when it comes to normalizing repugnant behavior in the name of chasing the zeitgeist, makes it a popular stop on the image rehab express.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

Sometimes referred to as the second brain, it would continue to weave his writings together and, like all of Pollan’s work, seems poised to capture the zeitgeist just as research is emerging about it.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

And so, the full magnitude of the true crime apparatus has descended upon the zeitgeist and this sleepy street, with no end in sight.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

So Sophy left off trying to understand clearly all the "ologies" and fly-wheel within fly-wheel movements of the day, and contented herself with a general apprehension of the zeitgeist.

From Shadows of Flames A Novel by Rives, Amélie