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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
Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
There, by his bedside, her glib ethos of attachment gives way to something more tender.
—Alexandra Tanner, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Sustainability initiatives are central to the property’s ethos.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2025
Several sources tell me that the governor’s ambiguity was in no small part in the hope of keeping Sundance, with its ethos of inclusion, in state.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 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 13 Apr. 2025.
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