noun
Uncommon
mindset
MYN-seht
Mindset (noun) means a person's habitual way of thinking or their general outlook and attitude. Example: “She approaches every setback with a positive mindset.”
noun
1
A person's habitual way of thinking or their general outlook and attitude.
"Some 46% of those polled agreed that the office environment puts them in a better mindset for work, with this figure rising to 55% of 18-34-year-olds."
— , Study captures positive benefits of commuting (2021)
"Earth Day is a way of propagating and celebrating the environmentalist mindset."
"She approaches every setback with a positive mindset."
"A growth mindset helps employees see challenges as opportunities."
"Changing your mindset about exercise can make it feel less like a chore."
How to use mindset
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe overall attitude or way of thinking someone brings to a situation.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
growth mindset
winning mindset
shift your mindset
the right mindset
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Word forms
- Plural
- mindsets
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Can you complete this real example?
She approaches every setback with a positive _____.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of "mind" and "set" — literally how your mind is "set" or oriented.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “mindset” mean?
The word “mindset” means a person's habitual way of thinking or their general outlook and attitude. In plain terms, the overall attitude or way of thinking someone brings to a situation.
How do you pronounce “mindset”?
“Mindset” is pronounced MYN-seht (/ˈmaɪn(d)ˌsɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “mindset” in a sentence?
Here is “mindset” used in a sentence: “She approaches every setback with a positive mindset.”
What part of speech is “mindset”?
“Mindset” is a noun.
Is “mindset” a common word?
“Mindset” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between mindset and attitude?
Mindset refers to a person's habitual, often deep-seated way of thinking and general outlook, while attitude tends to describe a more immediate reaction or stance toward a specific situation. A mindset shapes attitudes over time, acting as the broader mental framework behind them.
What does it mean to have a "growth mindset" versus a "fixed mindset"?
These popular phrases describe two habitual ways of thinking about ability: a growth mindset views skills as improvable through effort, while a fixed mindset treats them as static traits. Both are examples of how the general word mindset gets applied to a person's underlying outlook on a specific issue, in this case learning and ability.
Is mindset a single word or two words?
Mindset is written as one word in standard modern English, not as "mind set" or hyphenated "mind-set," though older texts sometimes use the hyphenated form.
