Consumerist: meaning, definitions and examples

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consumerist

 

[ kənˈsjuːməˌrɪst ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

economic behavior

Consumerist refers to a mindset or philosophy that promotes the acquisition of goods and services in increasingly high amounts. This attitude often places importance on accumulating wealth and material possessions, sometimes at the expense of social values or personal fulfillment.

Synonyms

commercial, materialistic, mercantile

Examples of usage

  • The consumerist culture encourages constant shopping.
  • Many films critique the consumerist society we live in.
  • She adopted a consumerist lifestyle, always chasing the latest trends.
Context #2 | Noun

social movement

A consumerist can refer to a person who advocates for consumer rights and promotes the interests of consumers. This can involve pushing back against corporate greed and advocating for fair practices in the marketplace.

Synonyms

advocate for consumer rights, consumer advocate

Examples of usage

  • He became a consumerist, fighting for better product safety regulations.
  • As a consumerist, her focus is on ethical buying.
  • The group acts as a consumerist, working against food industry monopolies.

Translations

Translations of the word "consumerist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 consumerista

🇮🇳 उपभोक्तावादी

🇩🇪 Konsumentismus

🇮🇩 konsumerisme

🇺🇦 споживацький

🇵🇱 konsumpcjonizm

🇯🇵 消費主義

🇫🇷 consumérisme

🇪🇸 consumismo

🇹🇷 tüketimcilik

🇰🇷 소비주의

🇸🇦 الاستهلاكية

🇨🇿 konsumerismus

🇸🇰 konsumerizmus

🇨🇳 消费主义

🇸🇮 konsumerizem

🇮🇸 neysluhyggja

🇰🇿 тұтынушылық

🇬🇪 კონსუმერიზმი

🇦🇿 istehlakçılıq

🇲🇽 consumismo

Etymology

The term 'consumerist' is derived from the word 'consumer,' which has its roots in the Latin word 'consumere,' meaning 'to take wholly' or 'to use up.' The suffix '-ist' is added to indicate a person who practices or is concerned with something. 'Consumerist' emerged in the 1960s to describe a growing concern over materialism and consumer culture in Western societies, particularly in the United States. The increase in post-war prosperity facilitated greater access to goods and services, leading to a shift in societal values towards mass consumption. The consumerist movement has been associated with various social critiques against materialism, environmental degradation, and corporate capitalism, prompting discussions about sustainable consumption and ethical marketing practices.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,987 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.