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.

But these individual feats seem less important than the zeitgeist of the era.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

That’s a generous reading of the bilateral zeitgeist at a tempestuous moment.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Dimon has a habit of making big commitments in tune with the zeitgeist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

AI is just one more thing we all have to worry about now — in the classroom, in the workplace, in the zeitgeist.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

It went on and vanished among the fronds of a distant island; but the calm had been broken, and through all the stems there ran a restless sense of anticipation, a zeitgeist of prophetic import.

From Edge of the Jungle by Beebe, William