financialization

American  

[fi-nan-shuh-luh-zey-shuhn, fahy‐] / fɪˈnæn ʃə ləˈzeɪ ʃən, faɪ‐ /

noun

1. an increase in the role of financial institutions, markets, and executives in a nation’s economy, and its subsequent dominance over the traditional economics of industry and agriculture.

   The forces of modern financialization have become irresistible.

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Other Word Forms

• financialize verb (used with or without object)

Etymology

Origin of financialization

First recorded in 1970–75; financial ( def. ) + -ization ( def. )

Example Sentences

Investment banking evolved from financing industrial growth to financialization, consistently facing allegations of profiteering.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Already, they say, gold ETFs have shifted the landscape, by accelerating financialization of gold.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025

This financialization of property led to a wave of speculation, evictions and displacements citywide as developers and landlords began to realize they could get more profit from their holdings.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2025

“You got automation, financialization, globalization,” explains Hillard, “The real game changer was the entry of China into the World Trade Organization in 2001.”

From Slate • Aug. 29, 2023

I understand it with payment rails and financialization, which right now basically operate on computers owned by banks.

From The Verge • Dec. 7, 2021