conspicuous consumption

American  

noun

1. public enjoyment of possessions that are known to be costly so that one's ability to pay for such things is flaunted.

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conspicuous consumption British  

noun

1. spending in a lavish or ostentatious way, esp to impress others with one's wealth

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conspicuous consumption Cultural  

1. Buying unnecessary and expensive products and services as a way to show off wealth. The term was coined by U.S. economist Thorstein Veblen in The Theory of the Leisure Class.

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Etymology

Origin of conspicuous consumption

Used by Thorstein Veblen in The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899)

Example Sentences

To become Edna, Humphries would put on a mauve wig, an increasingly rococo pair of eyeglasses and a glittering gown that screeched conspicuous consumption.

From New York Times

“However, unfortunately, there are still elements of whimsy, conspicuous consumption, corruption and bellicose posturing behind some event hosting decisions.”

From Washington Times

Such conspicuous consumption by the ruling family is at odds with North Korea’s socialist ideology and officially banned under United Nations sanctions, but members of North Korea’s elite continue to defy the sanctions, experts say.

From Washington Post

But the rise of de-influencing videos may be the most foreboding omen of all: a stark rejection of social media’s typically conspicuous consumption.

From Los Angeles Times

For more than a decade, Future has been a troubadour of toxicity and the artist most responsible for how rappers sound when delivering odes to the conspicuous consumption of codeine, couture and companions.

From Washington Post