zeitgeist
noun
ˈzīt-
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Scholars have long maintained that each era has a unique spirit, a nature or climate that sets it apart from all others. In German, such a spirit is known as Zeitgeist, from the German words Zeit, meaning "time," and Geist, meaning "spirit" or "ghost." (This same Geist, when combined with poltern, meaning "to knock," led to the English word poltergeist referring to a noisy ghost.) It is common nowadays to read about something "tapping into" or "capturing" the zeitgeist, as doing so often entails popularity or profitability in appealing to a great many people, though sometimes the zeitgeist of a particular time and place is only recognized in hindsight, either due to nostalgia or with the benefit of (one hopes) greater wisdom.
Examples of zeitgeist in a Sentence
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
By the time Allbirds tried to course-correct, its moment in the zeitgeist had come and gone.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
The ad created such a huge buzz that it's widely credited for turning Super Bowl commercials into an art form and part of the cultural zeitgeist.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Gap continues to tap into the cultural zeitgeist by collaborating with creative partners who bring fresh perspectives to its heritage designs.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for zeitgeist
Cite this Entry
“Zeitgeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zeitgeist. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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