Zeitgeist
spirit of the times, prevailing mood of an era
Advanced Noun Masculine
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Pronunciation
/ˈt͡saɪ̯tˌɡaɪ̯st/
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Cultural Note
Coined by German philosopher Hegel, 'Zeitgeist' (Zeit = time + Geist = spirit/mind) has become an international intellectual term. It refers to the defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history. The concept reflects the German philosophical tradition of seeing culture and ideas as evolving historical forces.
📝 Example Sentences
Dieses Buch fängt den Zeitgeist der Neunziger perfekt ein.
This book perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the nineties.
Der Zeitgeist hat sich seit der Pandemie verändert.
The zeitgeist has changed since the pandemic.
Sie hat den Zeitgeist ihrer Generation geprägt.
She shaped the zeitgeist of her generation.