mindset

noun

mind·​set ˈmīn(d)-ˌset How to pronounce mindset (audio)
variants or less commonly mind-set
plural mindsets also mind-sets
1
: a mental attitude or inclination
politicians trying to determine the mindset of voters
It isn't only the freshness of the fruit that makes breakfast in California restaurants outstanding. It's an attitude, a morning mindset, a desire to start the day in a leisurely, luxurious manner.Jane and Michael Stern
2
: a fixed state of mind
His mind-set does not allow for new situations.
The German military thought they were being honorable, and this wasn't an excuse—this was their complete mindset.William Vollman

Examples of mindset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the march of time may soon shift the general mindset on AI, Maddaus observes. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025 That mindset leads to no shortage of delightfully blasé supernatural adventures rife with magic and curses. Abby Monteil, Them., 15 Oct. 2025 After a stellar performance in the Giants’ 34-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night, an ESPN interview with Skattebo’s mother from January resurfaced, giving even more insight into the running back’s unique mindset. Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025 In all of our studies, this mindset was also strongly associated with authoritarian attitudes, including beliefs that some groups should dominate others and support for autocratic government. Abraham Rutchick, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025 Still, modernization also requires a new mindset, said Clark. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025 To me, the best advice for all young people starting out today is to stay curious, stay open, and maintain a growth mindset. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025 That's brought employees from many different cultures together, rather than breeding a unified corporate mindset from its founding. Alex Sherman, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025 Wembanyama's return to the court this preseason showcases a broader offensive repertoire and a refined mindset. Evan Dammarell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mindset was in 1909

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mindset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mindset. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

mindset

noun
mind·​set
variants also mind-set
: a mental inclination, tendency, or habit

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