ethos
ethos
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling (IPA)
US: /ˈiːθoʊs/
UK: /ˈiːθɒs/
Syllable Breakdown
The word "ethos" has two syllables: e-thos.
e- (/'iː/): This is the stressed first syllable. It's pronounced with a long "ee" sound, like the vowel in "see" or "be."
-thos (/θoʊs/ or /θɒs/):
/θ/ (th): The unvoiced "th" sound, as in "thin" or "path."
/oʊ/ (oh): (Common in US English) The long "o" sound, as in "go" or "boat."
/ɒ/ (o): (Common in UK English) The short "o" sound, as in "lot" or "pot."
/s/ (s): The "s" sound, as in "sit."
Word Form Variations
Singular: ethos
Plural: ethoses (This is the standard, Anglicized plural.)
Plural (Classical): ethea (This is the plural derived from the original Greek, \tilde{\eta}\theta\omicron\varsigma (êthos) -> \ἤ\theta\eta (ḗthē). It is much rarer in modern use.)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
The fundamental character, spirit, or set of guiding beliefs that define a particular culture, community, institution, or movement. It's the "vibe" or value system that influences the attitudes and behaviors of a group.
Synonyms: character, spirit, values, principles, morals, standards, ideology, mindset.
Antonyms: (There's no direct antonym, but concepts that oppose it include:) chaos, lawlessness, incoherence, amorality.
(In rhetoric) The perceived credibility, trustworthiness, or authority of a speaker or writer. It's the element of persuasion that relies on the audience's positive perception of the speaker's character or expertise.
Synonyms: credibility, authority, trustworthiness, reputation, integrity, standing.
Antonyms: disreputability, untrustworthiness, unreliability.
Examples of Use
In Books and Literature
In his foundational work Rhetoric, the philosopher Aristotle introduced ethos as one of the three primary modes of persuasion (along with pathos and logos). He defined it as the persuasive power derived from the speaker's perceived character, wisdom, and integrity.
"The Puritan ethos of hard work, moral discipline, and communal responsibility is central to understanding the early colonies depicted in The Scarlet Letter." (Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter).
"In The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe masterfully captures the unique ethos of the test pilots at Edwards Air Force Base—a culture defined by incredible courage, technical skill, and an unspoken code of 'true grit'." (Tom Wolfe, The Right Stuff).
In Newspapers and Online Publications
"The investigative report from The Washington Post (August 2024) revealed that the tech giant's internal ethos had shifted from its 'don't be evil' mantra to one that prioritized engagement and ad revenue above user safety."
"Writing for The Atlantic (January 2025), a cultural critic argued that the minimalist, 'less is more' ethos popularized by influencers is often just a different, more aesthetically pleasing form of consumerism."
"A Wired (May 2024) feature on the open-source software movement described its core ethos as a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and the free exchange of information."
In Entertainment and Media
Film: The movie Moneyball contrasts the traditionalist ethos of old-school baseball scouts (who rely on intuition and experience) with the new, data-driven ethos introduced by Billy Beane.
Television: In the series Star Trek, the ethos of the Federation is embodied by the Prime Directive—a core principle of non-interference that guides their exploration of the galaxy.
Video Games: The video game Red Dead Redemption 2 explores the dying ethos of the "Old West" outlaw, as the gang's code of loyalty clashes with the encroaching civilization and rule of law.
In General Public Discourse
Business: "Our new CEO is trying to instill a company-wide ethos of innovation and accountability, moving away from the bureaucracy of the past."
Politics: "During the debate, the challenger attacked the incumbent's credibility, arguing that his actions in office were inconsistent with the ethos of public service he claimed to represent."
Social: "The neighborhood has a real community ethos; people look out for each other and organize local events."
Education: "The honor code is central to the university's academic ethos, creating a campus built on trust and integrity."
10 Famous Quotes Using Ethos
It is not mere business astuteness... it is an ethos. (Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism)
What I do deny is that you can build any enduring society without some such mystical ethos. (Herbert Read)
Throughout the 1980s, we did hear too much about individual gain and the ethos of selfishness and greed. (Hillary Clinton)
A bully can give you the chance to enhance your ethos to that audience. (Jay Heinrichs, Thank You for Arguing)
It's actually quite a good ethos for life: go into the unknown with truth, commitment, and openness and mostly you'll be okay. (Alan Cumming)
Too many in Washington display a ruling class mentality... restoring the citizen-legislator ethos of the Founding Fathers. (Ron DeSantis)
Science is very vibrant... That's consistent with the punk rock ethos that suggests that you should not take what people say at face value. (Greg Graffin)
I am weary of the ethos of victimhood that has parasitized our culture. (Gad Saad)
My ethos is musical freedom: to create whatever I want. (Labrinth)
No ethos, pursued without thought or mercy, is ethical. (Janet Morris)
Etymology
In simple terms, the word ethos was borrowed directly from ancient Greek.
The original Greek word is $\tilde{\eta}\theta\omicron\varsigma$ (êthos). Its earliest meaning was "custom" or "habit." Over time, this idea evolved. The Greeks started using it to describe the result of all those habits—the "character," "disposition," or "spirit" of a person or a group.
Think of it this way:
Your habits and customs...
...shape your character...
...which becomes your ethos.
It's closely related to the word $\ ἔ\theta\omicron\varsigma$ (ethos), with a short 'e' sound, which also meant "habit." The two ideas are deeply connected.
When the word was first adopted into English (around the mid-19th century), it was mainly used in the field of rhetoric, thanks to Aristotle. It was used to describe the first of his three modes of persuasion: convincing an audience by appearing to be a credible and trustworthy person.
From there, its meaning expanded to the one we use most often today: the fundamental, guiding spirit of an entire community, culture, or organization.
A simple way to remember its origin is to connect it to the word "ethics." Both words come from this same Greek root. Your "ethics" are the moral principles that make up your personal "ethos" or character.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ethos
Phrases Using "Ethos"
The word ethos is most often used in descriptive phrases rather than in fixed idioms.
The company ethos
A strong work ethos
The prevailing ethos
A cultural ethos
The national ethos
A punk rock ethos
The DIY (do-it-yourself) ethos
The ethos of the organization
A challenge to the ethos
To embrace an ethos
Idioms With a Similar Effect
These idioms relate to the two main meanings of ethos: 1) guiding beliefs/spirit and 2) credibility/character.
For Guiding Beliefs & Spirit
The spirit of the law: The underlying intention or values, rather than the literal rule.
The lay of the land: The general character or state of affairs in a particular group.
How we do things around here: A casual way of describing a group's culture or unwritten rules.
The guiding principle: The main value that informs decisions.
The name of the game: The central focus or most important aspect of an activity.
For Credibility & Character
His/her word is his/her bond: A statement that someone is completely trustworthy and will do what they promise.
As good as one's word: Reliable; someone who keeps promises.
Above board: Honest, open, and legitimate.
On the level: Sincere, truthful, and honest.
A pillar of the community: A person who is seen as a respected, credible, and essential part of a group.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ethos from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
