mindset

noun

mind·​set ˈmīn(d)-ˌset How to pronounce mindset (audio)
variants or less commonly mind-set
plural mindsets also mind-sets
Synonyms of mindset
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.
Curt Cignetti has not just provided a championship mindset for the passionate fans that were sitting through days of blowouts and small glimmers of hope in past years. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Audiences may justifiably seethe at how Sutskever’s safety-first mindset gets steamrolled by Altman’s slick accelerationism (as happened in real life). — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 Switching from the first mindset to the second doesn’t happen in a classroom. — Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Mershon echoes a motivational line to describe De Los Angeles’ mindset. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mindset

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mindset was in 1909

Rhymes for mindset

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Browse Nearby Words

mind reading
mindset
mindshare
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Cite this Entry

“Mindset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mindset. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

mindset

noun
mind·​set
variants also mind-set
ˈmīn(d)-ˌset How to pronounce mindset (audio)
: a mental inclination, tendency, or habit
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