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In Greek, ēthos means “custom” or “character.” As originally used by Aristotle, it referred to a person’s character or personality, especially with respect to a balance between passion and caution. In English, ethos is used today to refer to the practices or values that distinguish one person, organization, or society from others. In rhetoric, ethos is often studied alongside pathos and logos as a technique to successfully persuade an audience. Related terms in the English language include ethics (“a branch of philosophy dealing with what is morally right or wrong”) and ethology (“a branch of knowledge dealing with human character and with its formation and evolution”).
Examples of ethos in a Sentence
Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
In time, that ethos led to the formation of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries or STAR, a group that helped often abandoned youth find shelter.
—Raquel Willis, Time, 19 June 2025
The lodge was built with a zero-waste, zero-plastic ethos, and while there’s Wi-Fi, this is a place designed for deep connection with the land, not just the signal.
—Melanie Van Zyl, AFAR Media, 16 June 2025
Legislation like the Homestead Act of 1862 and the GI Bill of 1944 reflected the fundamental ethos that ownership ensures empowerment.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ethos
Cite this Entry
“Ethos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethos. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
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