consumerism

[ kuhn-soo-muh-riz-uhm ]

noun

1. a modern movement for the protection of the consumer against useless, inferior, or dangerous products, misleading advertising, unfair pricing, etc.
2. the concept that an ever-expanding consumption of goods is advantageous to the economy.
3. the fact or practice of an increasing consumption of goods:

   a critic of American consumerism.

consumerism

/ kənˈsjuːməˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. protection of the interests of consumers
2. advocacy of a high rate of consumption and spending as a basis for a sound economy

consumerism

1. A movement in the United States that seeks to protect consumers against shoddy or improperly labeled products. ( See Ralph Nader .)

Derived Forms

• conˈsumerist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• anti·con·sumer·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of consumerism¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; consumer + -ism

Example Sentences

It’s gift-guide and new-ski season, but it’s also the time of year when we can most feel the itch of consumerism.

From Outside Online

The company is part of a wide, slow wave of conscious consumerism taking hold in the outdoor industry.

From Outside Online

The rapid growth in donors and awareness underscores the fact that Giving Tuesday has become a phenomenon in its own right — an outlet for a backlash against the consumerism of the holiday shopping season.

From Vox

The Chief Rabbi was simply pointing out the potential dangers of consumerism when taken too far.

From Washington Post

Purple Dot tackles this problem head-on by providing a new way to shop, taking on unsustainable, unrelenting consumerism, poor pricing tactics and profit-crunching sales at the same time.

From TechCrunch

There are still headwinds for these American icons of consumerism.

From The Daily Beast

How do you feel about the current relationship between art and consumerism?

From The Daily Beast

A healthy sense of leisure … Consumerism has brought us anxiety, [causing us to lose a] healthy culture of leisure.

From The Daily Beast

There is a sense of consumerism but also, for a lack of a better word, taste—curation and arrangement.

From The Daily Beast

We must make it known that we have had enough of consumerism tainted with misery and blood.

From The Daily Beast

Foreign firms, which came over to ride the wave of unbridled consumerism and to make a quick buck, will go home.

From Project Gutenberg