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 of capitalist

Noun

• have
• plutocrat
• money
• magnate
• moneybags
• billionaire

Examples of capitalist in a Sentence

Noun

capitalists who lost everything in the '29 Crash

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On August 20, 2011, legendary venture capitalist Marc Andreessen published a blog post—and an accompanying essay in The Wall Street Journal—that would become the sacred texts of the Silicon Valley bull run. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026

Other prominent donors to Mahan include billionaire investor and SpaceX board member Steve Jurvetson, venture capitalist Brian Singerman and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale. —Grace Hase, Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2026

Adjective

That classic capitalist disconnect — the alienation of the worker from their labor — fascinated him, and gave him the confidence that his premise would have universal resonance. —Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026

The most powerful enemy of all is the capitalist system of landownership and social hierarchy that kept these two freaks apart. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026

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