commercialism

noun

com·​mer·​cial·​ism kə-ˈmər-shə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: commercial spirit, institutions, or methods

2

: excessive emphasis on profit

commercialist

kə-ˈmər-sh(ə-)list 

noun

commercialistic

kə-ˌmər-shə-ˈli-stik 

adjective

Examples of commercialism in a Sentence

the commercialism of modern society

the increasing commercialism of the Christmas holiday

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the final stop on our tour, which tells the story of how reggaetón music is fueling commercialism in Medellín and transforming tourism in the city. —Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 18 Mar. 2025

For an experimental project that eschewed commercialism and grew in the studio, American’s backing proved pivotal, because the label provided the time and money to make whatever music Deconstruction wanted to make, which wasn’t a privilege most bands got. —Aaron Gilbreath, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024

Sure, there’s a reasonable and informed argument to be made that its big-budget excess, rampant commercialism, and formulaic checkbox-checking exemplify everything wrong with the AAA gaming industry right now. —ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025

These factions would seem to be holiday rivals of a sort, like people who can’t get enough of all Christmas and the camp bemoaning its commercialism. —Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for commercialism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism