Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Zeitgeist
noun
/ TSYT-gyst /
Hard
Meaning
The defining spirit or mood of a particular period in history, as expressed through the prevailing ideas, culture, and concerns of the era
Origin / Etymology
German Zeitgeist — from Zeit (time) + Geist (spirit); popularised by German philosopher G.W.F. Hegel to describe the intellectual and cultural climate of an age
Synonyms
Spirit of the age
Prevailing mood
Temper of the times
Cultural ethos
Antonyms
Anachronism
Counter-culture
Historical anomaly
Example Sentence
"The global zeitgeist of the 2020s — marked by supply chain nationalism, climate anxiety, and democratic backsliding — has fundamentally altered the assumptions underlying post-Cold War liberal international order."
🎯 UPSC Usage
A high-impact word for Essay paper openings and conclusions. Use to capture the dominant intellectual or political mood of an era: 'the post-1991 zeitgeist of liberalisation', 'the post-pandemic zeitgeist of self-reliance', or 'the current zeitgeist of multipolarity'. Also valuable in Interview answers when asked about global trends and India's response.
Relevant Subjects