- Ethos is defined as the beliefs or ideas by which a person or group lives.
An example of an ethos is the community goals set in a mission statement.
the characteristic and distinguishing attitudes, habits, beliefs, etc. of an individual or of a group
Origin of ethosClassical Greek ēthos, disposition, character: see ethical
The disposition, character, or fundamental values peculiar to a specific person, people, culture, or movement: “They cultivated a subversive alternative ethos” (Anthony Burgess).
Origin of ethosGreek ēthos, character; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.
(plural ethe or ethea)
terms etymologically related to ethos
From Ancient Greek ἦθος (ēthos, “custom, habit”).