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noun

der Zeitgeist, -er

Zeitgeist · zeitgeist

Die typische Art, wie viele Menschen in einer bestimmten Zeit denken, fühlen und leben.

Definition & meaning

The term Zeitgeist refers to the "spirit of the times." It describes the invisible intellectual, moral, and cultural atmosphere of a specific era. It represents the collective set of ideas, beliefs, and sentiments that characterize a particular period in history and influence the people living within it. For example, the Zeitgeist of the 1920s was marked by a sense of liberation and modernism, while the Zeitgeist of the 1960s was defined by social change and counterculture.

In a broader sense, it can also refer to the prevailing trend or fashion of a moment. When something is said to capture the Zeitgeist, it means it perfectly reflects what is currently popular or relevant in society.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a masculine noun: der Zeitgeist. The plural form is die Zeitgeister, though it is rarely used in the plural.

It is a compound noun consisting of two parts:

  1. Zeit: Meaning "time."
  2. Geist: Meaning "spirit," "mind," or "ghost."

The term gained prominence in German philosophy during the late 18th and 19th centuries. Philosophers like Johann Gottfried Herder and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel used it to describe the historical evolution of human thought. The word was later adopted directly into English and many other languages because it precisely captures a complex sociological concept.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Epochenstimmung: The mood or atmosphere of an epoch.
  • Zeitströmung: The current or trend of the time.
  • Lebensgefühl: The general "feeling of life" or attitude toward existence during a certain period.
  • Denkweise: A way of thinking or mindset prevalent at a time.

Antonyms: While there is no single direct opposite, the following terms represent contrasting concepts:

  • Unzeitgemäßheit: The quality of being out of step with the times or old-fashioned.
  • Ewigkeitswert: Something that has eternal value and transcends the specific spirit of any single era.
  • Zeitlosigkeit: Timelessness; the quality of not being affected by the passage of time or changing trends.

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Examples

Das Buch reflektiert den Zeitgeist der Moderne.noun

The book reflects the Zeitgeist of modernity.

Der Zeitgeist beeinflusst unsere täglichen Entscheidungen.noun

The zeitgeist influences our daily decisions.

Der Zeitgeist hat sich deutlich verändert.noun

The zeitgeist has changed significantly.

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