capitalist

1 of 2

noun

cap·​i·​tal·​ist ˈka-pə-tə-list 

ˈkap-tə-

1

: a person who has capital especially invested in business

industrial capitalists

broadly : a person of wealth : plutocrat

Charitable organizations often seek help from capitalists.

2

: a person who favors capitalism

capitalist

2 of 2

adjective

variants or capitalistic

ˌka-pə-tə-ˈli-stik 

ˌkap-tə-

1

: owning capital

the capitalist class

2

a

: practicing or advocating capitalism

capitalist nations

b

: marked by capitalism

capitalist period of history

capitalistically

ˌka-pə-tə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌkap-tə-

adverb

Synonyms

Noun

• Croesus
• deep pocket
• fat cat
• have
• money
• moneybags
• plutocrat
• silk stocking

Examples of capitalist in a Sentence

Noun

capitalists who lost everything in the '29 Crash

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Figures like venture capitalist Bryan Johnson have gone viral for undergoing treatments like plasma transfusions to extend his life. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025

Venture capitalist David Sacks, recently named as President Donald Trump’s artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency czar, is a limited partner in projects by local developer Brick & Timber Collective, according to loan documents and people familiar with the matter. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Neoliberalism has no greater claim to the capitalist mantle than Keynesianism had before it or that neoliberalism’s successor will have. —Jennifer M. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

This is a result of a profit-first capitalist system in crisis in the epoch of imperialism’s decline. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably borrowed from French capitaliste "person possessing capital," from capital capital entry 2 + -iste -ist entry 1

Adjective

capital entry 2 + -ist entry 2, after capitalist entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing capitalist

• pre-capitalist

Kids Definition

capitalist

noun

cap·​i·​tal·​ist

ˈkap-ət-ᵊl-əst,

ˈkap-tᵊl-

1

: a person who has capital and especially business capital

2

: a person who supports capitalism