Attitude - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT attitude /ˌædəˈtud/ /ˈætɪtjud/ IPA guide

Other forms: attitudes

An attitude is somewhere between a belief, a stance, a mood, and a pose. If you've got an attitude about something, it can be hard to change it because you think you're right.

You'll often hear Happy Hour referred to as "Attitude Adjustment Hour," because cheap drinks are one of the best ways to change your attitude. If you're in a bad mood, cocktails can make it better (or worse). An attitude is a way of thinking that you can express just by standing a certain way. For example, putting your hands on your hips and rolling your eyes expresses one kind of attitude, while kneeling with your palms together expresses a very different one.

Definitions of attitude

noun a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways “he had the attitude that work was fun” synonyms: mental attitude see moresee less types: show 58 types... hide 58 types... acceptance, credence the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true culture the attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization defensive, defensive attitude an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on the defensive') hardball a no-nonsense attitude in business or politics high horse an attitude of arrogant superiority southernism an attitude characteristic of Southerners (especially in the US) mentality, mind-set, mindset, outlook a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations paternalism the attitude (of a person or a government) that subordinates should be controlled in a fatherly way for their own good position, posture, stance a rationalized mental attitude disposition, inclination, tendency an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others tolerance willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs or practices of others intolerance unwillingness to recognize and respect differences in opinions or beliefs esteem, regard, respect an attitude of admiration or esteem disrespect a disrespectful mental attitude reverence a reverent mental attitude irreverence an irreverent mental attitude orientation an integrated set of attitudes and beliefs fatalism a submissive mental attitude resulting from acceptance of the doctrine that everything that happens is predetermined and inevitable recognition an acceptance (as of a claim) as true and valid cyberculture the culture that emerges from the use of computers for communication and entertainment and business Kalashnikov culture the attitudes and behavior in a social group that resolves political disputes by force of arms mosaic culture a highly diverse culture hard line a firm and uncompromising stance or position direction a general course along which something has a tendency to develop drift, movement, trend a general tendency to change (as of opinion) Call a special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue a particular course denominationalism the tendency, in Protestantism, to separate into religious denominations or to advocate such separations devices an inclination or desire; used in the plural in the phrase `left to your own devices' sympathy, understanding an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion favoritism, favouritism an inclination to favor some person or group leaning, proclivity, propensity a natural inclination bent, set a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way literalism a disposition to interpret statements in their literal sense perseveration (psychology) the tendency for a memory or idea to persist or recur without any apparent stimulus for it predisposition an inclination beforehand to interpret statements in a particular way favor, favour an inclination to approve disapproval, disfavor, disfavour, dislike an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group partiality, partisanship an inclination to favor one group or view or opinion over alternatives impartiality, nonpartisanship an inclination to weigh both views or opinions equally broad-mindedness an inclination to tolerate or overlook opposing or shocking opinions or behavior liberality, liberalness an inclination to favor progress and individual freedom disinterest, neutrality tolerance attributable to a lack of involvement insularity, narrow-mindedness, narrowness an inclination to criticize opposing opinions or shocking behavior bigotry, dogmatism the intolerance and prejudice of a bigot fanaticism, fanatism, zealotry excessive intolerance of opposing views religionism exaggerated religious zealotry zero tolerance extreme intolerance of antisocial behavior (usually by an uncompromising application of the law) estimate, estimation the respect with which a person is held profaneness an attitude of irreverence or contempt for a divinity wavelength a shared orientation leading to mutual understanding experimentalism an orientation that favors experimentation and innovation reorientation a fresh orientation; a changed set of attitudes and beliefs perspective, position, view a way of regarding situations or topics etc. point of view, stand, standpoint, viewpoint a mental position from which things are viewed orthodoxy a belief or orientation agreeing with conventional standards heresy, heterodoxy, unorthodoxy any opinions or doctrines that are different from the official or approved ones ideology, political orientation, political theory an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation religious orientation an attitude toward religion or religious practices type of: cognition, knowledge, noesis the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
noun the arrangement of the body and its limbs “he assumed an attitude of surrender” synonyms: position, posture see moresee less types: show 22 types... hide 22 types... order arms a position in the manual of arms; the rifle is held vertically on the right side with the butt on the ground; often used as a command ballet position classical position of the body and especially the feet in ballet decubitus a reclining position (as in a bed) eversion the position of being turned outward lithotomy position a position lying on your back with knees bent and thighs apart; assumed for vaginal or rectal examination lotus position a sitting position with the legs crossed; used in yoga missionary position a position for sexual intercourse; a man and woman lie facing each other with the man on top; so-called because missionaries thought it the proper position for primitive peoples pose a posture assumed by models for photographic or artistic purposes presentation (obstetrics) position of the fetus in the uterus relative to the birth canal ectopia abnormal position of a part or organ (especially at the time of birth) asana (Hinduism) a posture or manner of sitting, especially during yoga practice guard a posture of defence in boxing or fencing sprawl, sprawling an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about stance standing posture tuck (sports) a bodily position adopted in some sports (such as diving or skiing) in which the knees are bent and the thighs are drawn close to the chest pose a particular way of positioning or arranging one’s body pike a position, as in gymnastics or diving, in which the legs are straight while the body is bent forward at the waist and the hands touch the feet or hold the calves arabesque position in which the dancer has one leg raised behind and arms outstretched in a conventional pose matsyendra (Hinduism) a religious posture address the stance assumed by a golfer in preparation for hitting a golf ball attention a motionless erect stance with arms at the sides and feet together; assumed by military personnel during drill or review erectness, uprightness the property of being upright in posture type of: bodily property an attribute of the body
noun a theatrical pose created for effect “the actor struck just the right attitude” see moresee less type of: affectation, affectedness, mannerism, pose a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display
noun position of aircraft or spacecraft relative to a frame of reference (the horizon or direction of motion) see moresee less types: trim attitude of an aircraft in flight when allowed to take its own orientation type of: orientation position or alignment relative to points of the compass or other specific directions

Pronunciation US /ˌædəˈtud/ UK /ˈætɪtjud/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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