You searched for: “zeitgeists
zeitgeist (s) (noun), zeitgeists (pl)
1. The ideas prevalent in a period and place, particularly as expressed in literature, philosophy, and religion: The zeitgeist of the 1920s seemed to be lighthearted.
2. The spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation: The zeitgeist of the new century was characterized by apprehension and curiosity.
3. The general intellectual, moral, and general cultural taste characteristic of an era: Please tell James about the zeitgeist of the time when he was growing up.
4. Etymology: from German Zeitgeist; literally, "spirit of the age"; from Zeit, "time" plus Geist, "spirit".
This entry is located in the following unit: English Words in Action, Group Z (page 1)