consumerism
Culture of excessive buying
the idea or habit of buying a lot of things, often more than people need
consumerism; a culture of consumerism
- The documentary argues that consumerism is driving waste and debt.
- Many critics say social media has intensified consumerism by turning every trend into something to buy.
- The shopping mall became a symbol of postwar consumerism.
- Consumerism can make people buy things they do not need.
- She wrote an essay about consumerism and advertising.
Protection of consumer interests
work or campaigns that try to protect buyers and make companies treat them fairly
consumerism; consumerism in [policy/law/business]
- In policy discussions, consumerism can mean organized pressure for safer products and clearer information.
- The new labeling rules grew out of a wave of consumerism in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Consumerism pushed companies to improve refund policies and product safety standards.
- In this sense, consumerism is about protecting buyers.
- Consumerism helped create stronger rules for product safety.
- Base: consumerism
- Plural: consumerism
anti-consumerism
1Opposition to consumerist culture
the belief that people should not focus so much on buying things
- The film combines anti-consumerism with a broader critique of modern work culture.
- Her anti-consumerism led her to stop buying new clothes for a year.
- The brand borrowed anti-consumerism slogans, which many people found ironic.
conspicuous consumerism
1Status-focused public buying
buying and showing expensive things so other people notice your status
- Luxury influencer culture is often criticized as conspicuous consumerism.
- The campaign mocked conspicuous consumerism by showing people competing over designer logos.
- For some viewers, the show was less about fashion than about conspicuous consumerism.
ethical consumerism
1buying based on moral concerns
The habit of buying or not buying products because of how they affect people, animals, or nature.
- Ethical consumerism has pushed many companies to improve working conditions in their factories.
- She teaches a course on ethical consumerism and sustainable lifestyles.
ethical consumerism
1Buying based on ethics
buying products from companies that you think behave responsibly
- Ethical consumerism has increased demand for fair-trade coffee and cruelty-free cosmetics.
- The campaign encourages ethical consumerism by publishing information about supply chains.
- Some critics argue that ethical consumerism puts too much responsibility on individual shoppers.
green consumerism
1Environmentally minded buying
choosing products because they seem better for the environment
- Green consumerism has pushed brands to reduce packaging and advertise recycled materials.
- The company tried to appeal to green consumerism with a new line of eco-friendly cleaning products.
- Environmental groups disagree about whether green consumerism can really solve climate problems.
mass consumerism
1Large-scale public consumption
a situation in which many people in a society buy many of the same kinds of products
- Cheap credit and television advertising helped fuel mass consumerism.
- The smartphone era created new forms of mass consumerism around apps, accessories, and upgrades.
- Historians often link the growth of suburbs to the rise of mass consumerism.
political consumerism
1Politics through buying choices
using what you buy or refuse to buy to show political beliefs
- Boycotts are one of the most visible forms of political consumerism.
- Social media has made political consumerism easier to organize and publicize.
- Researchers study whether political consumerism changes company behavior.