mammonism

[mam-uh-niz-uhm]

noun

1. the greedy pursuit of riches.

Other Word Forms

• mammonist noun
• mammonite noun
• mammonistic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mammonism¹

First recorded in 1815–25; mammon + -ism

Example Sentences

Bezos may be a key player in the Silicon Valley scheme to destroy privacy and ratchet up excess in the interest of mammonism, but for the moment, he’s a hero.

From New York Times

It added that "extravagance or sensationalism" should not be promoted and that "mammonism" - meaning the greedy pursuit of riches - must not be encouraged.

From BBC

Since China’s opening to the world, “Chinese have embraced diversified thoughts, including the decayed, outdated ideals of mammonism and extreme individualism,” the People’s Daily said in a February editorial.

From BusinessWeek

Both Romney and Gingrich are just too hard to assimilate–all those mind-bending rationalizations for mind-changes on stuff that most conservatives don’t have to think twice about, plus Romney’s Mormonism and Gingrich’s Mammonism.

From Time

Those who take this view, generally find a strong bond of union with socialists in their common revolt against the mammonism of the church-going middle classes, and against some current economic doctrines, which seem almost to canonize what they count the heartless and un-Christian principles of self-interest and competition.

From Project Gutenberg