noun

consumerism

kuhn-SYOO-muh-rihzm

Consumerism (noun) means a strong cultural focus on buying and owning goods, often seen as excessive. Example: “The documentary criticized consumerism and its effect on the environment.”

noun

A strong cultural focus on buying and owning goods, often seen as excessive.

"The documentary criticized consumerism and its effect on the environment."

A movement or policy aimed at protecting consumers' rights and interests.

"Modern consumerism pushed companies to be more transparent about ingredients."

How to use consumerism

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA culture built around buying things, or a movement protecting buyers' rights.

Common pairings

rampant consumerism a critique of consumerism

Word forms

consumerisms plural

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The documentary criticized _____ and its effect on the environment.

Etymology

From consumer + the noun-forming suffix -ism.

Frequently asked questions

What does “consumerism” mean?

The word “consumerism” means a strong cultural focus on buying and owning goods, often seen as excessive. In plain terms, a culture built around buying things, or a movement protecting buyers' rights.

How do you pronounce “consumerism”?

“Consumerism” is pronounced kuhn-SYOO-muh-rihzm (/kənˈsumərɪzm̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “consumerism” in a sentence?

Here is “consumerism” used in a sentence: “The documentary criticized consumerism and its effect on the environment.”

What part of speech is “consumerism”?

“Consumerism” is a noun.

How many meanings does “consumerism” have?

“Consumerism” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong cultural focus on buying and owning goods, often seen as excessive.