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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
Celene Viveros Garces, Baltimore Sun, 24 Mar. 2025
Their sunny ethos was put to a big test a few months ago when Grey passed away after experiencing a series of health issues.
—Cathy Applefeld Olson, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Still, at its core, the ethos remains unchanged—celebrate nature, honor those who document it and remind the world what’s worth preserving.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Apparently that ethos goes only so far, because Zuckerberg’s company, now called Meta, is taking extreme measures to quash a corporate tell-all by Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former global public policy director at Facebook.
—Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 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 22 Apr. 2025.
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