Protestant work ethic

Cultural  

1. A view of life that promotes hard work and self-discipline as a means to material prosperity. It is called Protestant because some Protestant groups believe that such prosperity is a sign of God's grace.

---

Example Sentences

From the Protestant work ethic to “rage quitting,” American attitudes about their work are driven by its promise of prosperity—and its precarious nature, writes Lindsay Ellis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025

Moyes, 53, credits her Protestant work ethic for her success, which was evident from an early age.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2023

Watching movies like "Double Indemnity," "Easy Rider" and "Office Space," you might think Americans had never heard of the Protestant work ethic – the spirit of sacrifice and delayed gratification that helped build capitalism.

From Salon • Oct. 15, 2022

It was vital because it integrated comfort into the Protestant work ethic.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 16, 2021

Or a commitment to the Protestant work ethic?

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides