In 18th- and 19th-century German philosophy, a zeitgeist is an invisible agent, force, or daemon dominating the characteristics of a given epoch in world history. The term is usually associated with Georg W. F. Hegel, contrasting with Hegel's use of Volksgeist "national spirit" and Weltgeist "world-spirit". Its coinage and popularization precede Hegel, and are mostly due to Herder and Goethe. Other philosophers who were associated with such concepts include Spencer and Voltaire. Contemporary use of the term sometimes, more colloquially, refers to a schema of fashions or fads that prescribes what is considered to be acceptable or tasteful for an era: e.g., in the field of architecture.

युगात्मा, जर्मन शब्द ज़ाइटगाइस्ट (Zeitgeist) का हिन्दी अनुवाद है। इसका शाब्दिक अर्थ है - युग की आत्मा । 'ज़ाइटगाइस्ट' का आशय किसी देश या समूह के सामान्य सांस्कृतिक, बौद्धिक, नैतिक, आध्यात्मिक एवं राजनीतिक वातावरण से है। 'zeitgeist' शब्द, Zeit - 'समय' तथा Geist- 'आत्मा' से मिलकर बना है।