consumerism

consumerism
consumerism con‧sum‧er‧ism [kənˈsjuːmərɪzm ǁ -ˈsuː-] noun [uncountable]
1. ECONOMICS the idea or belief that buying things is very important for people:

• Consumerism is the new religion, and department stores are important temples.

2. MARKETING the activity of protecting consumers from bad products, dishonest producers etc

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consumerism UK US /kənˈsjuːmərɪzəm/ noun [U]
► ECONOMICS a situation involving large amounts of goods being sold to individuals rather than businesses, especially when this is very important to an economy: »

State boundaries matter little in an age of global consumerism and investment.

 »

More and more people are convinced of the importance of ethical and green consumerism.

► often DISAPPROVING the situation when too much attention is given to buying and owning things, often things that are not really necessary: »

Uncontrollable consumerism has become a watchword of our culture despite regular and compelling calls for its end.

 »

Bottled water very clearly reflects the wasteful and reckless consumerism in this country.

► SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY the protection of customers from dishonest business activities and advertising, from unsafe products, etc.: »

In a competitive market consumerism can be in the interest of sellers as well as buyers, if it is made into an effective selling point.


Financial and business terms. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • consumerism — Consumerism, both as the mass consumption of commercial goods and as an ideology of the Chinese economy, has significantly shaped the lives of the ordinary Chinese since the end of the 1970s. Since the end of the 1970s, ‘mass consumption’… …   Encyclopedia of Contemporary Chinese Culture

  • consumerism — consumerísm s. n. Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar ortografic  CONSUMERÍSM s. n. mişcare de mase care îşi propune apărarea intereselor consumatorului faţă de abuzurile specifice societăţii de consum, precum şi îmbunătăţirea… …   Dicționar Român

  • consumerism — 1944, protection of the consumer s interest, from CONSUMER (Cf. consumer) + ISM (Cf. ism). Also, encouraging consumption as an economic policy (1960). Related: Consumerist (1965, n.; 1969, adj.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • consumerism — ► NOUN 1) the protection or promotion of the interests of consumers. 2) the preoccupation of society with the acquisition of goods. DERIVATIVES consumerist adjective & noun …   English terms dictionary

  • consumerism — [kən so͞o′məriz΄əm] n. 1. the practice and policies of protecting the consumer by publicizing defective and unsafe products, misleading business practices, etc. 2. the consumption of goods and services 3. a theory that a continual increase in the …   English World dictionary

  • Consumerism — Consumerist redirects here. For the blog of that name, see The Consumerist. An electronics store in a shopping mall in Jakarta. Part of a se …   Wikipedia

  • Consumerism — The theory that a country that consumes goods and services in large quantities will be better off economically. Consumerism for example, is an industrial society that is advanced, a large amount of goods is bought and sold. Sometimes referred to… …   Investment dictionary

  • consumerism — [[t]kənsju͟ːmərɪzəm, AM su͟ː [/t]] 1) N UNCOUNT: oft supp N (disapproval) Consumerism is the belief that it is good to buy and use a lot of goods. They have clearly embraced Western consumerism. 2) N UNCOUNT Consumerism is the protection of the… …   English dictionary

  • consumerism —    The past thirty years have witnessed a radical modification of Spain s consumer structure. The steady growth of per capita income since the 1950s has increased the consumption of products other than basics such as food or clothing. In addition …   Encyclopedia of contemporary Spanish culture

  • consumerism — /keuhn sooh meuh riz euhm/, n. 1. a modern movement for the protection of the consumer against useless, inferior, or dangerous products, misleading advertising, unfair pricing, etc. 2. the concept that an ever expanding consumption of goods is… …   Universalium

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