: the arrangement of the parts of a body or figure : posture
depicted her in a reclining attitude
2
: a position assumed for a specific purpose
a threatening attitude
3
: a ballet position similar to the arabesque in which the raised leg is bent at the knee
4
a
: a mental position with regard to a fact or state
a helpful attitude
b
: a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state
a negative attitude
an optimistic attitude
5
: the position of a craft (such as an aircraft or spacecraft) determined by the relationship between its axes and a reference datum (such as the horizon or a particular star)
6
: a bodily state of readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a stimulus (such as an object, concept, or situation)
7
a
: a negative or hostile state of mind
b
: a cool, cocky, defiant, or arrogant manner
He was showing some attitude in practice today, so the coach benched him.
He has a positive attitude about the changes. She's friendly and has a good attitude. You need to change your bad attitude. There's been a change in his attitude since his accident. I don't know what her problem is. She has a real attitude. I suggest you get rid of that attitude and shape up. He was showing some attitude during practice today, so the coach benched him. See More
Recent Examples on the WebThere’s also a coming-of-age story involving a girl, Nawi (The Underground Railroad‘s Thuso Mbedu), who is reluctantly forced into the ranks of the Agojie and must push past her limits and bad attitude to prove herself worthy of the honor. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2022 Today’s iterations don’t veer far from the classics, but the distinctly 2022-feeling comes in by way of styling and attitude. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2022 Jimenez’s attitude swiftly shifted: In 2019, 18 months after the chase that left Cox permanently disabled, the chief and his 48-member department agreed to ban high-speed pursuits for traffic infractions and minor, nonviolent crimes. Kimberly Kindy, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Sep. 2022 Despite her initial professional, no nonsense, attitude, Jen quickly takes a liking to Mallory and desperately wants to be friends. Milan Polk, Men's Health, 15 Sep. 2022 Perhaps what gives Sargent and Track Enterprises the best chance to succeed are attitude and experience. Dave Kallmann, Journal Sentinel, 15 Sep. 2022 Its smoked headlights and taillights also promote a racy attitude. Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 15 Sep. 2022 Jimenez’s attitude swiftly shifted: In 2019, 18 months after the chase that left Cox permanently disabled, the chief and his 48-member department agreed to ban high-speed pursuits for traffic infractions and minor, nonviolent crimes.Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 But the author’s attitude toward this redemption is ambivalent: Collodi, and with him the reader, roots for Pinocchio because the puppet is a mischievous rule breaker, not in spite of it. Anna Momigliano, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
French, from Italian attitudine, literally, aptitude, from Late Latin aptitudin-, aptitudo fitness — more at aptitude