commercialism

[kuh-mur-shuh-liz-uhm]

noun

1. the principles, practices, and spirit of commerce.

2. a commercial attitude in noncommercial affairs; inappropriate or excessive emphasis on profit, success, or immediate results.

3. a commercial custom or expression.

commercialism

/ kəˈmɜːʃəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the spirit, principles, or procedure of commerce

2. exclusive or inappropriate emphasis on profit

Other Word Forms

• commercialist noun
• commercialistic adjective
• anticommercialism noun
• anticommercialist noun
• anticommercialistic adjective
• supercommercialism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of commercialism¹

commercial + -ism

Example Sentences

The cartoonist wanted to tell a story that cut through the glitz of holiday commercialism and brought the focus back to something deeper.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They despised its commercialism and dreaded the prospect of future films about Mattel properties such as Barney and American Girl dolls.

Read more on Seattle Times

Bob Dylan composed a hand-written note praising John and Yoko an enemies of “this mild dull taste of commercialism” forced on the culture by the “overpowering mass media.”

Read more on Seattle Times

His work continued to defy precepts of commercialism, language and politics.

Read more on New York Times

Viewers get a street-level view of the rise of the San Francisco dream — artistic freedom, community and authenticity — and its fall, thanks to hard drugs, commercialism and increasingly hard edges.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• commerce 
• deal 
• dealings 
• exchange 
• industry 
• manufacturing www.thesaurus.com
• market 
• sales 
• selling 
• trade 
• traffic 
• transaction