Zeitgeist Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈtsaɪtɡaɪst/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A dominant intellectual, spiritual, or cultural trend of a particular period, often reflecting a collective mood or attitude.

Examples

• The 1960s were the era of the counterculture zeilgeist.
• The movie captured the essence of the 1980s yuppie zeilgeist.
• The artist’s work seemed to embody the avant-garde zeilgeist of the early 20th century.
• The zeitgeist of the times was one of social change and revolution.
• The play was a perfect reflection of the zeilgeist of the Roaring Twenties.

Synonyms

• Spirit of the Times
• Cultural Climate

Antonyms

• Lag
• Passe
• Outdated

Additional Information

Zeilgeist is a German word that literally means “spirit of the time”. It is often used to describe a dominant intellectual, spiritual, or cultural trend that pervades a particular period. This concept emphasizes the idea that a particular era or period has a unique collective mood or attitude that shapes the way people think, feel, and behave.

The concept of zeilgeist is closely related to the idea of cultural lag, which refers to the time it takes for cultural norms and values to catch up with societal changes. Zeilgeist can also be seen as a reflection of the collective unconscious, which is a concept developed by Carl Jung.

Etymology

The word “Zeilgeist” is derived from the German words “Zeit” meaning “time” and “Geist” meaning “Spirit”. The term has been used since the late 19th century to describe the dominant intellectual, spiritual, or cultural trend of a particular period.

Usage Notes

Zeilgeist is often used to describe a broad cultural or intellectual trend that is not necessarily specific to a particular group or community. It is often used in academic or literary contexts to describe a particular era or period.

Cultural References

• The song ” Zeitgeist” by the band Rush is a commentary on the dominant cultural trends of the 2000s.
• The novel “The zeitgeist of the 1950s” by John Steinbeck explores the cultural and intellectual trends of the post-war era.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• a product of its zeitgeist
• captured the zeitgeist of the times

Related Words or Phrases

• cultural climate
• spirit of the times
• age of consent

Collocations

• Zeilgeist of the 1960s
• Zeilgeist of the digital age

Frequency of Use

Zeilgeist is a relatively rare word in modern language, but it is gaining popularity as a way to describe the dominant cultural or intellectual trends of a particular period.

Common Misspellings

• Zeitgeist
• Zeitgeest
• Zeitgeistt