conspicuous consumption

noun

: lavish or wasteful spending thought to enhance social prestige

Examples of conspicuous consumption in a Sentence

a culture of conspicuous consumption

Recent Examples on the Web

By putting the spa before the staterooms, this design flips the superyacht script from conspicuous consumption to conscious longevity. — Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2026

The book had its share of wild parties, conspicuous consumption and drunken abandon. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

In addition to reckoning with conspicuous consumption, my novel also investigates what life looks like for the Anderson women when the perennially absent Alan becomes an always-there man. — Courtney Maum, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026

FatFIRE, however, makes conspicuous consumption part of the deal. — Joshua Rivera, Vanity Fair, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for conspicuous consumption

• assumption
• presumption
• resumption
• subsumption
• gumption
• sumption