Meaning & use

ethos

noun·Advanced

The characteristic spirit, values, and beliefs that define a culture, group, or era.

See it in a sentence

The company's ethos emphasizes collaboration over individual competition.

Volunteering reflects the community's shared ethos of helping neighbors in need.

A note on using this word

Describes underlying character or guiding values, not a single rule; it's felt in how a group behaves rather than stated outright.

Words with a similar meaning

valuesspirit

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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