noun · formal
consumerism
UK/kənˈsjuːmərɪzəm/US/kənˈsuːmərɪzəm/con·SUM·er·ism
The cultural focus on buying and using goods in large amounts, or support for consumer rights.
Examples
“The rise of consumerism has increased demand for cheap, disposable goods.”
“Some schools teach students to resist consumerism and think about sustainability.”
“Critics link consumerism to environmental problems such as waste.”
Band 8 sentence
“The rise of consumerism has been linked to environmental damage due to increased waste and resource use.”
Collocations
- rise of consumerism
- culture of consumerism
- combat consumerism
Word family
Common mistakes
People are very consumerism→People are very consumerist
many consumerism→high levels of consumerism
Say it for a higher band
5buying too much→6materialism→7+consumerism
Synonyms
materialism
Easily confused
materialism
“Materialism often leads people to value possessions more than relationships.”
Related words
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In -ism
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