mindset

American

[mahynd-set] / ˈmaɪndˌsɛt /

Or mind-set

noun

a fixed attitude, disposition, or mood.

His conservative mindset sometimes causes him to miss out on important opportunities.
Her judgmental mindset has cost her a number of friendships.
an intention or inclination.

I'm not sure what her mindset will be when you ask her about her plans.

Etymology

Origin of mindset

First recorded in 1905–10; mind ( def. ) + set ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does mindset compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

mentality vs. mindset

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.

There are studies on how a positive mindset and confidence can influence your performance.

From BBC

"Through that we were able to gain and understanding of his ideology, his mindset and what he was hoping to achieve."

From BBC

When I photographed Laurence Fishburne for his role in the spy thriller “The Amateur,” I approached the session with a storyteller’s mindset.

From Los Angeles Times

There is certainly a difference in mindset between the two countries.

From BBC

It was a fascinating insight into Emery's mindset in the midst of Villa's remarkable 10-match winning run in all competitions.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023