Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “consumerism” come from?

Consumerism is an English formation from consumer, which derives from Latin consumere (to use up, devour), composed of the prefix cum (with) and sumere (to take).

consumerism (English): A policy of protecting and informing consumers...

Definitions

  1. A policy of protecting and informing consumers...

Ancestry of “consumerism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishconsumerOne who, or that which, consumes; Someone who...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-āre—
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-—
10Chichewaiyehe, she

Words derived from “consumerism”

  • hyperconsumerism
  • anticonsumerism
  • consumérisme
Every word from Chichewa iye →