the preoccupation with and emphasis on the acquisition of consumer goods
example
The rise of consumerism has led to a culture where people often prioritize material possessions over personal relationships.
synonyms
materialismcommercialismcapitalism
word origin — The word 'consumerism' originated in the early 20th century, combining 'consumer' (which comes from the Latin 'consumere', meaning 'to use up, waste') with the suffix '-ism', indicating a doctrine or practice.
SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 331
Set 331 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: consumerism, misconception, swarm, boon, myriad. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
consumerism · noun/kənˈsuː.mɚ.ɪ.zəm/
the preoccupation with and emphasis on the acquisition of consumer goods
The rise of consumerism has led to a culture where people often prioritize material possessions over personal relationships.
Synonyms: materialism, commercialism, capitalism
Origin: The word 'consumerism' originated in the early 20th century, combining 'consumer' (which comes from the Latin 'consumere', meaning 'to use up, waste') with the suffix '-ism', indicating a doctrine or practice.
misconception · noun/ˌmɪs.kənˈsɛp.ʃən/
a view or opinion that is incorrect based on faulty thinking or understanding
One common misconception about climate change is that it only affects polar bears and does not impact humans directly.
Synonyms: misunderstanding, fallacy, delusion
Origin: The word 'misconception' is formed from the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' and the root word 'conception', which comes from Latin 'conceptio', meaning 'a receiving, a conception'.
swarm · noun/swɔrm/
a large or dense group of insects or other animals moving together
A swarm of bees buzzed around the blooming flowers, searching for nectar.
Synonyms: flock, crowd, horde
Origin: The word 'swarm' originates from Old English 'swearm', which meant 'to move in a crowd' or 'to boil over.'
boon · noun/bun/
a thing that is helpful or beneficial
The new software update has proven to be a boon for productivity, allowing employees to complete tasks more efficiently.
Synonyms: blessing, benefit, advantage
Origin: The word 'boon' comes from the Middle English 'bone', which is derived from the Old Norse word 'bón', meaning 'request' or 'prayer'.
myriad · noun/ˈmɪrɪəd/
a very large number or variety
The garden was filled with a myriad of colorful flowers, each blooming more vibrantly than the last.
Synonyms: multitude, countless, myriad
Origin: from Greek 'myriadēs' meaning 'ten thousand'