consumerism

From consumer +‎ -ism.

• (US) IPA^(key): /kənˈsumərɪzm̩/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kənˈsjumərɪzm̩/

• Audio (Southern England):

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• Audio (US):

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consumerism (countable and uncountable, plural consumerisms)

1. A materialistic attachment to possessions with a heavy use of consumables; a lifestyle based on such tendencies.
   • 1996, C. Bloom, Cult Fiction: Popular Reading and Pulp Theory, page 113:

     The fear of corporatism, consumerism, middle-browism and a mass reading public has driven twentieth-century cultural hierarchists.

   • 2015 June 28, Paul Vallely, “The Pope's Ecological Vow”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     Insatiable consumerism has blinkered our vision and left us unable to distinguish between what we need and what we merely want.

   • 2024 August 8, Angela Garbes, “Menopause tests and anti-ageing face oils: welcome to midlife consumerism”, in The Guardian‎^[2], →ISSN:

     It’s easy to say, as I often do, that it’s capitalism at work. Yet I am actively involved in consumerism, triggered by my insecurities.

   • 2025 September 14, Alexander Nazaryan, quoting D. Andrew Price, “‘Freedom’ Shirt Becomes a Meme and an Instant Commodity”, in The New York Times‎^[3], New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

     “It’s where cultural identity and cheap viral consumerism intersect,” D. Andrew Price, head of content at Memes Media Group, said of how Mr. Kirk’s T-shirt has proliferated in recent days.

     (Can we archive this URL?)

2. An economic theory that increased consumption is beneficial to a nation's economy in the long run.
3. A policy or social movement of protecting and informing consumers through honesty in advertising and packaging, as well as improved safety standards, among other measures.

• res communis