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

Welcome to the world of financialization, in which profit is made through fees, stock buybacks, complex derivatives, and the like rather than through investment in production and services.

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

The financialization of the web is underway, I would say, and maybe it will stop and maybe it will reverse, but right now, all the energy is to financialize a bunch of things.

From The Verge • Mar. 15, 2022