mentality

noun

men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈta-lə-tē 

plural mentalities

1

: mental power or capacity : intelligence

2

: mode or way of thought : outlook

the imperialist mentality of the nineteenth century

—John Davies

Synonyms

• brain(s)
• brainpower
• gray matter
• headpiece
• intellect
• intellectuality
• intelligence
• reason
• sense
• smarts

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

By far the most political of the three films, 28 Years Later is particularly scathing about Brexit Britain and its little-islander mentality. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 18 June 2025

United midfielder and captain turned TV pundit Roy Keane thought Pogba had a mentality issue. —The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 17 June 2025

One former coach said that the alpha-male mentality displayed in his online persona was also present in his work at the school. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025

The brand has remained lean and founder-owned, with no outside investors and a bootstrap mentality that favors creative control and sustainable growth over rapid scale. —Karin Eldor, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mentality

• bunker mentality
• herd mentality
• siege mentality
• victim mentality

Rhymes for mentality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• finality
• formality
• frugality
• legality

Kids Definition

mentality

noun

men·​tal·​i·​ty men-ˈtal-ət-ē 

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 

plural mentalities

1

: mental power or capacity

2

: mode or way of thought