From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishzeitgeistzeit‧geist /ˈzaɪtɡaɪst/ noun [singular] SHthe general spirit or feeling of a period in history, as shown by people’s ideas and beliefs at the time
Examples from the Corpus
zeitgeist• Or maybe Letterman, circa 1997, occupies a different niche in the cultural zeitgeist.• But those who fought for debt relief should not underestimate the success they have had in changing the zeitgeist.Origin zeitgeist (1800-1900) German “spirit of the time” 