Words / B2

men-TAL-uh-tee/menˈtæləti/

A mentality is a typical way of thinking in a person or group: a siege mentality; a growth mentality (rarer than mindset). Attitude is everyday; mindset is the school twin (later in this set). A siege mentality is not a policy. Mix-up: mentality vs mental health; metal is a material (already in the dictionary). Do not write mentality for an illness.

Meaning

A typical way of thinking among a person or group.

Examples

• “A siege mentality in the minutes is not a safeguarding policy.”
• “A blame mentality featured in the inspection letter, which is the group-attitude sense.”

Good to know

a + adjective + mentality; the mentality of. Everyday: attitude. School twin: mindset. Trap: mental illness / metal. News and sociology. A way of thinking, not a diagnosis.

Near in meaning

attitude

New