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

Symbolic capitalists—academics, commentators, lawyers, consultants—manipulate words or data rather than making things with their hands. —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024

Hosted by the Consulates General of Korea and Japan, the event brought together Korean and Japanese startups with Silicon Valley venture capitalists—about 120 people total—to exchange ideas and experiences. —Gyehyon Andrea Jo, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Adjective

In the 2000s, when the new capitalist order took hold after the wild, post-soviet freedom and chaos, Kranin had to close his non-commercial endeavor. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

Numerous state officials, including Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel, have criticized the capitalist content of the paquete. —Laura-Zoë Humphreys and Daymar Valdés Frigola / Made By History, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024

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