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
Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
The singer, actress, investor and now, cookie maker, created a first-ever flavor for Oreo as part of the cookie company’s growing roster of partnerships to help attract Gen Z eaters and keep the 113-year-old brand in the cultural zeitgeist.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 20 May 2025
The company celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year, and brought out some of its creators on stage that have broken through the pop culture zeitgeist to emphasize the evolution of the creator economy from kids in their basements to billion-dollar studios.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
While introducing us to breakout talent like Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard, and putting icons like Winona Ryder back in the limelight, Stranger Things has been part of the zeitgeist for nearly 10 years.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for zeitgeist
Cite this Entry
“Zeitgeist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zeitgeist. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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