mammon

[ mam-uhn ]

noun

1. New Testament. riches or material wealth.

   Synonyms: gold, money

2. Often Mammon. a personification of riches as an evil spirit or deity.

Mammon

¹

/ ˈmæmən /

noun

1. New Testament the personification of riches and greed in the form of a false god

mammon

²

/ ˈmæmən /

noun

1. riches or wealth regarded as a source of evil and corruption
2. avarice or greed

mammon

1. A New Testament expression for material wealth, which some people worship as a god. Figuratively, it simply means money.

Derived Forms

• ˈmammonism, noun
• ˌmammonˈistic, adjective
• ˈmammonish, adjective
• ˈmammonist, noun

Other Words From

• mammon·ish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mammon¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, from Late Latin mammona, mammonas, mammon, from Greek mam(m)ōnâs, from Aramaic māmōnā “riches, wealth”

Word History and Origins

Origin of mammon¹

C14: via Late Latin from New Testament Greek mammōnas, from Aramaic māmōnā wealth

Example Sentences

Warnock communications director Terrence Clark said the sermon was “based on a biblical verse that reads ‘No man can serve two masters … Ye cannot serve God and mammon,’ a biblical term for wealth.”

From Washington Times

Warnock communications director Terrence Clark said the 2011 sermon was “based on a biblical verse that reads ‘No man can serve two masters … Ye cannot serve God and mammon,’ a biblical term for wealth.”

From Washington Times

The gaudiness struck him as grotesque; the biblical term “mammon” came to mind.

From New York Times

In the past few decades, pro-business lobbying groups have joined evangelical organizations to back judges who have reliably promoted both God and mammon.

From Washington Post

But there are signs in 2020 that mammon is making a comeback.

From The Guardian