ethos
/ˈiːθɒs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈiːθɑːs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈē-ˌthäs/ (ame, mw)
ethos — noun
1. the moral values and social attitudes that shape how a particular group, organiz
the moral values and social attitudes that shape how a particular group, organization, or culture thinks and behaves toward one another.
The company's ethos of putting customers first has built strong brand loyalty.
collocation: ethos of + principle / value
Kemi admires the school's ethos, which encourages students to question ideas freely.
The medical profession's ethos demands that doctors put patients before personal gain.
Joaquín worries that the team's competitive ethos burns out its hardest workers.
A strong community ethos makes neighbours look out for every child on the street.
- spirit
more about prevailing mood or energy than moral beliefs
- values
more concrete and measurable; ethos is the overall character shaped by values
- character
describes the moral quality resulting from actions; ethos is the underlying belief system
- culture
broader term covering customs, language, and daily practices alongside beliefs
文法句型
the ethos of [group/institution/culture]
[group]'s ethos
ethos + that-clause
用法筆記
Frequently used with a possessive noun or 'of'-phrase that identifies the group: the school's ethos, the ethos of modern science. Not typically used for a single individual's beliefs in everyday contexts — for that, 'principles' or 'values' is more natural.