mentality
Americannoun
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mental capacity or endowment.
a person of average mentality.
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the set of one's mind; view; outlook.
a liberal mentality.
noun
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the state or quality of mental or intellectual ability
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a way of thinking; mental inclination or character
his weird mentality
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Etymology
Origin of mentality
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How does mentality compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A mentality is a way of thinking or the ability to think and learn. If someone says you have the mentality of a kindergartener, that's great if you’re in kindergarten, but if you're in tenth grade, they're probably calling you immature. An obvious part of the noun mentality is the word "mental," which means "of the mind." How your mind works is your mentality, either in a way that's measured in school or testing, or in the way you think about things. A learned way of thinking comes from experiences; for example you might have a competitive mentality at mealtime because you share a table with nine brothers and sisters.
Vocabulary lists containing mentality
Farewell to Manzanar
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Ten Words from Today's Times - March 15, 2012
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Our America
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Mentality is the most important when it comes to the gaokao."
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
In his post, Bryant describes his raw emotions and even uncharacteristically expresses some self-doubt before his famous Mamba Mentality inevitably surfaces.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025
"Mentality monsters" has been their tag in recent times and they leant on that numerous times again this season.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2025
The fake money was used in a recent photo shoot to promote Frances’ “Money Mentality Makeover” digital course.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2025
See also Psychology Mellor, Joseph: case story of, 111 Mentality: irresponsible agents, 17-20; psychology of insanity, 20, 24; educational handicaps, 29 Mexico: and extradition, 119, 170 Morgan, Charles: case story of, 147-148 Motion, J.R.,
From Broken Homes A Study of Family Desertion and its Social Treatment by Colcord, Joanna C.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
