noun
consumerism
kuhn-SYOO-muh-rihzm
noun
1
A strong cultural focus on buying and owning goods, often seen as excessive.
"The documentary criticized consumerism and its effect on the environment."
2
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 notesIn 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
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “consumerism”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The documentary criticized _____ and its effect on the environment.
Etymology
From consumer + the noun-forming suffix -ism.