noun
zeitgeist; spirit of the age
A loanword from German, used in intellectual or cultural contexts to refer to the defining mood or ideas of a particular period in history. Often used in discussions of philosophy, art, or social trends.
from German Zeitgeist
See also: 時代精神
この作品は当時のツァイトガイストをよく表している。
This work captures the zeitgeist of that era well.
時代精神 is the native Japanese equivalent, more commonly used in everyday contexts, while ツァイトガイスト carries a more academic or Western philosophical nuance.
Borrowed from German 'Zeitgeist' (Zeit 'time' + Geist 'spirit').