- Today's Word
Zeitgeist
[TSAYT-gayst]
Definition
- (noun) The general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era. It represents the defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time.
Example
The rise of social media and smartphones has significantly shaped the zeitgeist of the early 21st century, influencing how people communicate and consume information.
Fun Fact
The word “zeitgeist” comes from German, where “zeit” means “time” and “geist” means “spirit” or “ghost.” It was introduced into English in the mid-19th century. The concept of zeitgeist was particularly important in the philosophy of Hegel, who believed that a universal spirit pervades human history and manifests itself in the zeitgeist of a given era. Today, the term is widely used in discussions of cultural trends, social movements, and historical analysis to capture the essence of what makes a particular time period unique or distinctive.
(noun/adjective) A person with exceptional skill or mastery in a particular art or field; demonstrating extraordinary technical ability.
Watching her perform was unlike anything the audience had experienced — every movement precise, every note inevitable, the work of a genuine virtuoso.