Word family noun attitude adjective attitudinal
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishattitudeat‧ti‧tude /ˈætɪtjuːd $ -tuːd/ ●●● S2 W1 AWL noun 1 [countable, uncountable]ATTITUDE the opinions and feelings that you usually have about something, especially when this is shown in your behaviour As soon as they found out I was a doctor, their whole attitude changed.attitude to/towards The people have a very positive attitude to life.2 [uncountable] informalUNUSUAL a style of dressing, behaving etc that shows you have the confidence to do unusual and exciting things without caring what other people thinkwith attitude a coat with attitude —attitudinal /ˌætəˈtjuːdənəl $ -ˈtuː-/ adjectiveCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesgood/bada lazy student with a bad attitudepositive/negativeA positive attitude is essential if you want to be successful.Many teenagers have a very negative attitude towards cooking. relaxedOn Bali, there is a healthier, more relaxed attitude to life.favourable (=having a good opinion of something or someone)Older people tend to have a favourable attitude to the police.critical (=showing you disagree with or disapprove of someone or something)People’s attitude towards US foreign policy has become increasingly critical. ambivalent (=not sure if you approve of something)The public have a rather ambivalent attitude towards science.cavalier (=very careless, especially about something serious or important)his cavalier attitude to the truthpatronizing/condescending (=showing that you think you are more important or intelligent than someone)complaints about patronising attitudes towards womenaggressive/hostile (=showing anger)Their attitude suddenly became more aggressive.public attitudes/people’s attitudesPublic attitudes have changed.political attitudesa survey of people’s political attitudesmental attitudeThere is a strong connection between health and mental attitude.somebody’s whole attitudeHis whole attitude seemed different.the general attitudeHis general attitude to our situation was unsympathetic.verbshave/take/adopt an attitudeNot everyone takes a positive attitude towards modern art.somebody’s attitude changesAs you get older, your attitude changes.an attitude existsThis attitude no longer exists in the church.somebody’s attitude hardens (=they feel less sympathy and they want to be stricter or firmer)People’s attitudes towards sex offenders have hardened.phrasesan attitude of mind British English (=a way of thinking)Being young is simply an attitude of mind.somebody has an attitude problem (=someone is not helpful or pleasant to be with)Some of the male students have a real attitude problem. Examples from the Corpus
attitude• It is an attitude that reeks of strength and self-confidence.• They maintained an attitude of defiance to social conventions.• What I don't need is somebody with an attitude problem.• In order to change attitudes towards employing women, the government is bringing in new laws.• Pity that this convoluted attitude towards violence doesn't prevail in all Slavic societies today.• The team just came out for the second half with a different attitude.• He had attitude, the right stuff, like a nineteenth-century beatnik.• His attitude to his new job seemed to be very negative.• Some of the guys have a real macho attitude.• This has tended to foster a very negative attitude towards this form of provision and the staff who work in such units.• Piaget contends that the basis for social interchange is a reciprocity of attitudes and values between the young child and others.• So there may be something in the advice to take a positive attitude.• Since the 1960s, there has been a big change in people's attitudes to sex before marriage.• The crux of the matter is that attitudes on the character and scope of planning have changed.• The book explains some of the attitudes and values of the Victorians.• Officials took the attitude that the problem was not their responsibility.• And Frye had very little confidence in his ability to transform attitudes.• When I told them I was a doctor their whole attitude changed.• I don't understand your attitude. Why don't you like her?attitude to/towards• Any sane and workable approach to life obviously has to contain both an attitude to individuals and an attitude towards the whole.• This approach is reflected in the courts' attitude to business contracts generally.• In psychologists' terms, they have a favourable attitude towards it.• The Netizen will offer attitude to slow the mainstream spin of the politicians.• Apply climb power and raise the pitch attitude to the required position. 2.• Orientation is also concerned with the creation of a positive attitude to this kind of information retrieval.• The attitude to the disposal of plastics varies greatly among countries.• Their attitudes to literature, art, fashion, politics were seized upon, devoured, turned over, re-sited.with attitude• This is solid rock 'n' roll played with attitude.Origin attitude (1600-1700) French Late Latin aptitudo “fitness”, from Latin aptus; → APT 