What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ethos
Example
The company's ethos is centered around innovation and collaboration. [ethos: noun]
Example
The school's ethos emphasizes academic excellence and community service. [ethos: noun]
spirit
Example
The team showed great spirit in their comeback victory. [spirit: noun]
Example
She approached the task with a can-do spirit. [spirit: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spirit is more commonly used than ethos in everyday language. Spirit is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while ethos is less common and typically used in academic or professional contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ethos and spirit?
Ethos is typically associated with a serious and formal tone, while spirit can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.