mentality
Americannoun
plural
mentalities-
mental capacity or endowment.
a person of average mentality.
-
the set of one's mind; view; outlook.
a liberal mentality.
noun
-
the state or quality of mental or intellectual ability
-
a way of thinking; mental inclination or character
his weird mentality
Other Word Forms
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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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.
Aside from the mentality aspect, the player's influence at Old Trafford should extend far longer than his physical presence.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast: "The mentality that head coach Derek McInnes has drilled into the team is just phenomenal - they are a unit."
From BBC • May 14, 2026
"We should stop this victim mentality," he told AFP.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
That mentality is one reason St. Göran’s rolls out productivity-enhancing tools like AI far faster than its state-run rivals.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
The most tangible and enduring antislavery effects of the revolutionary mentality occurred in the northern states during and immediately after the war.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
