consumerism

American  

[kuhn-soo-muh-riz-uhm] / kənˈsu məˌrɪz əm /

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.

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consumerism British  

/ 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

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consumerism Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• anticonsumerism noun
• consumerist noun

Etymology

Origin of consumerism

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

Example Sentences

Since they formed in 2019, the artists have gained an international reputation for employing the slick tropes of marketing and fashion to playfully skewer consumerism and supply-chain systems.

From The Wall Street Journal

But factories and businesses in the mountainous district say the age-old tradition is struggling against weak consumerism, with even the approaching Lunar New Year failing to boost sales.

From Barron's

Xi has indicated over the years that he has deep-rooted philosophical objections to Western-style consumerism, seeing it as wasteful.

From The Wall Street Journal

Zombies doubling as a metaphor for consumerism or groupthink?

From Salon

“All these efforts to spend less, to save more, to discover things you can do without giving in to consumerism, there’s an added benefit, which is a sense of control,” Caro said.

From MarketWatch