mentality

noun

men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈta-lə-tē How to pronounce mentality (audio)
plural mentalities
1
: mental power or capacity : intelligence
2
: mode or way of thought : outlook
the imperialist mentality of the nineteenth centuryJohn Davies

Examples of mentality in a Sentence

most teenagers do not have the mentality to foresee the consequences of such risky behavior
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Buckeyes, the No. 2 seed in the NCAA women’s hockey tournament, turned into one of the premier programs in the country because of that wolfpack mentality. Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 On Sunday, during the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Wallace’s new mentality showed in a pair of reactions. Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025 The Spartans, conversely, bring almost a Big Ten-football mentality to the court, trying to stilt the flow of the game by defending and rebounding well. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 23 Mar. 2025 Interim coach Joe Sacco had been talking about having more of a shot mentality but, with the exception of Morgan Geekie (eight totals shots taken, five on net, a goal), no one could pull the trigger with regularity. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mentality

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mentality was in 1691

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Cite this Entry

“Mentality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentality. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

mentality

noun
men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈtal-ət-ē How to pronounce mentality (audio)
plural mentalities
1
: mental power : intelligence
2
: a particular way of thinking : outlook

Medical Definition

mentality

noun
men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈtal-ət-ē How to pronounce mentality (audio)
plural mentalities
1
: mental power or capacity
2
: mode or way of thought

More from Merriam-Webster on mentality

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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