What does "attitude" mean?

1. (state of mind) the way you think or feel about something. 2. (rude behavior) a rude or confident way of acting that shows you do not care about others. 3. (physical position) the way you hold your body when standing or sitting. 4. (spatial orientation) the position of a plane or ship in relation to the ground or the horizon. 5. (to strike a pose) to move or pose in a way that shows a certain feeling.

How do you use "attitude"?

Often used with the prepositions 'to' or 'towards'. Common in aerospace and nautical engineering contexts.

Is it correct to say "He has a positive attitude for his work."?

No — say "He has a positive attitude toward his work.". Use 'toward' or 'to' when describing what the attitude is directed at.

attitude

n. · v.

US //ˈætəˌtud// UK //ˈætɪtjˌuːd// at·ti·tude

1 state of mind (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the way you think or feel about something.

a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behaviour.

Example

If you have a positive attitude, you will enjoy your new job much more.

Example

The survey revealed that public attitudes toward renewable energy have shifted significantly over the last decade.

Usage

Often used with the prepositions 'to' or 'towards'.
Pitfall

He has a positive attitude for his work.

He has a positive attitude toward his work.

Use 'toward' or 'to' when describing what the attitude is directed at.
2 rude behavior (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

a rude or confident way of acting that shows you do not care about others.

a confrontational, arrogant, or uncooperative manner. Often used in the phrase 'to have an attitude'.

Example

Don't give me that attitude just because I asked you to clean your room.

Example

The waiter's dismissive attitude eventually prompted the customers to leave a formal complaint with the manager.

Teacher's tip

This is often used by parents or teachers to describe a child being difficult or talking back.
- disrespect
- arrogance
- sass
- politeness
- humility

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3 physical position (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Literary

the way you hold your body when standing or sitting.

the position of the body or a way of carrying oneself; a posture.

Example

The statue showed a man in a proud attitude with his head held high.

Example

The dancer maintained a graceful attitude throughout the performance, even during the most physically demanding sequences.
4 spatial orientation (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

the position of a plane or ship in relation to the ground or the horizon.

the orientation of an aircraft, spacecraft, or ship relative to a frame of reference, such as the horizon or the direction of motion.

Example

The pilot adjusted the plane's attitude to prepare for landing.

Example

The satellite's attitude control system malfunctioned, causing it to drift away from its intended orbital alignment.

Usage

Common in aerospace and nautical engineering contexts.
- orientation
- alignment
5 to strike a pose (v.)
C2 Proficiency Literary

to move or pose in a way that shows a certain feeling.

to assume a particular physical position or to express a mental state through one's posture and bearing.

Example

The actors began to attitude on stage to show their characters' emotions.

Example

He spent the evening attituding before the guests, desperate to appear more sophisticated than he actually was.
- pose
- posture

Origin

From French attitude, from Italian attitudine (“attitude, aptness”), from Medieval Latin aptitūdō (“aptitude”) and actitūdō (“acting, posture”), from Latin aptō and actitō. Doublet of aptitude.