Meaning & use
mindset
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Meanings
nouncountable
A person's established way of thinking, including the attitudes and beliefs that shape how they approach situations.
Grammar: Countable: a mindset, different mindsets; often follows an adjective such as positive or growth.
Patterns
- a mindset of something
- change your mindset
She approached the exam with a calm mindset.
Moving abroad forced him to change his mindset.
The team needs a winning mindset to survive the season.
nouncountabledisapproving
A fixed attitude shared by a group, such as an organization or generation, that can be hard to change.
Grammar: Countable and often critical when describing a group that resists change.
Patterns
- a mindset in something
- the mindset of a group
The company's old mindset kept it from trying new products.
A cautious mindset runs through the whole department.
There is a conservative mindset among local farmers.
Word forms
| plural | mindsets |
|---|
Common combinations
- positive mindset
- A positive mindset helps in a long job search.
- growth mindset
- Teachers encourage a growth mindset in students.
- shift your mindset
- You need to shift your mindset about failure.
- change the mindset
- The campaign aims to change the mindset of drivers.
- entrepreneurial mindset
- She has an entrepreneurial mindset and loves new ventures.
Synonyms and how they differ
- attitude
- Attitude is wider and can mean a feeling about one thing, whereas mindset is a settled way of thinking.
- outlook
- Outlook suggests a general view of the world or the future, often more positive or negative.
- mentality
- Mentality stresses a typical way a group thinks and often carries criticism.
- frame of mind
- Frame of mind is a temporary mood, while mindset is more lasting.
Word family
- mind noun
- the part of a person that thinks
- set verb
- to fix firmly in place
- mindful adjective
- paying attention with awareness
- mindfulness noun
- calm, focused awareness of the present
Commonly confused: mindset or mood?
mindset vs mood
A mood is a short-lived feeling, while a mindset is a lasting pattern of thinking.
Practice
Which sentence uses mindset correctly?
Choose one answer.
Mindset is a noun meaning an established way of thinking, so it follows an adjective. The other sentences use it as a verb or in the wrong structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mindset”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.