consumerism
noun/kənˈsuməˌrɪzəm/
Frequency rank: #13,295 most common English word
Meaning
a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.
Example sentence
Many critics argue that consumerism encourages people to buy things they do not really need.
Synonyms & related words
- materialism
- commercialism
- capitalism
Practice this word in the quiz
More words in ranks 13,201–13,300
- clinicianA health professional who works directly with patients in a clinical setting.
- coerciveusing force or threats to make someone do something against their will.
- commercializationthe process of managing or running something primarily for financial profit.
- conclusivelyin a way that settles a question or doubt beyond dispute; definitively.
- conductionthe transfer of heat or electricity through a material by direct contact
- cosmologyThe branch of science or philosophy concerned with the origin, structure, and nature of the universe.
- curtailto reduce or limit something, especially by cutting it short
- daydreamto have pleasant thoughts or fantasies while awake, often as an escape from the present situation.
- detonateto explode or cause something to explode suddenly and violently.
- dockera person who loads and unloads ships at a dock; a dock worker.