acquisitive

[ uh-kwiz-i-tiv ]

adjective

1. tending or seeking to acquire and own, often greedily; eager to get wealth, possessions, etc.:

   our acquisitive impulses; acquisitive societies.

   Synonyms: avaricious, grasping, covetous

acquisitive

/ əˈkwɪzɪtɪv /

adjective

1. inclined or eager to acquire things, esp material possessions

   we currently live in an acquisitive society

Derived Forms

• acˈquisitively, adverb
• acˈquisitiveness, noun

Other Words From

• ac·quisi·tive·ly adverb
• ac·quisi·tive·ness noun
• nonac·quisi·tive adjective
• nonac·quisi·tive·ly adverb
• nonac·quisi·tive·ness noun
• preac·quisi·tive adjective
• preac·quisi·tive·ly adverb
• preac·quisi·tive·ness noun
• unac·quisi·tive adjective
• unac·quisi·tive·ly adverb
• unac·quisi·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acquisitive¹

1630–40; < Medieval Latin, Late Latin acquīsītīvus; acquisition, -ive

Example Sentences

"We are doing all we can to reduce thefts and pursue offenders, especially those prolific and habitual offenders, who cause misery within the community," said Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, the NPCC’s lead for acquisitive crime.

From BBC

By confronting the emptiness of consumerism, the Sex Pistols encourage listeners to get beyond object-oriented, acquisitive pursuits.

From Salon

Big Oil replaces Big Tech at the top of Friday's corporate diary, with recently acquisitive Exxon Mobil and Chevron due to report.

From Reuters

The majority of the money will finance a specialist police team that will work within OPAL, the national policing division that oversees intelligence on serious organised acquisitive crime.

From BBC

When she asks her husband to “buy this perfect day” for her, it seems less acquisitive than sentimental.

From New York Times

Related Words

• rapacious

More About Acquisitive

What does acquisitive mean?

Acquisitive most generally means tending or seeking to gain possession of wealth or material things, especially in a greedy way.

It’s perhaps most commonly used in a more specific way to describe companies that are known for acquiring (buying) other companies and properties—which are often referred to as acquisitions. (However, it’s used much less commonly than acquisition.) This sense of the word doesn’t necessarily imply greediness like the more general sense does, but it can imply that such companies tend to buy up competitors.

Example: The tech conglomerates are notoriously acquisitive, buying out any startup that has some technology they want.

Where does acquisitive come from?

The first records of the word acquisitive come from around 1600. It ultimately comes from the Latin verb acquīrere, which is the root of acquire and means “to add to one’s possessions.”

Due to the common use of acquisition to refer to a company bought by another company, acquisitive is most commonly used in this context. Acquisition can also be used in many general ways to refer to things acquired or the process or acquiring things, including intangible things like knowledge and skills. But acquisitive, when used in a general way, almost always refers to the tendency to try to acquire material goods or money. Criticism of consumerism often involves the discussion of the acquisitive nature of consumers who keep buying stuff.

Acquisitive should not be confused with the term inquisitive, which is used to describe a person who’s curious or asks a lot of questions.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to acquisitive?

• acquisitively (adverb)
• acquisitiveness (noun)
• nonacquisitive (adjective)
• nonacquisitively (adverb)
• acquisition (noun)
• acquire (verb)

What are some words that share a root or word element with acquisitive? 

 

• disquisition 
• accede

What are some words that often get used in discussing acquisitive?

• company
• business
• obtain
• get
• gain
• buy
• possession
• property
• greedy

What are some words acquisitive may be commonly confused with?

• inquisitive

How is acquisitive used in real life?

Acquisitive is often used in a somewhat formal way. It is most commonly used in the context of mergers and acquisitions.

“EML isn't a very acquisitive kind of a company, it isn't our core business model. Having said that, we always keep our eye and ears open," said #EicherMotors MD @SidLal (via @SwarajSB)@RoyalEnfield #Auto #Technology #RoyalEnfield @ETBIndia https://t.co/NCCHIs2YxV

— moneycontrol (@moneycontrolcom) June 15, 2020

one of the bigger trends in Canadian tech: the Caisse de depot funding domestic players who are both growing fast and acquisitive. Lightspeed, AlayaCare, Nuvei all immediately come to mind as egs https://t.co/H4ocyymqJV

— SeanSilcoff (@SeanSilcoff) January 7, 2020

"Using the summit as a measurement of success reflects the mortal injury done to climbing by our acquisitive society, which places great value on achievement itself and little on the process of achieving. I consider it a consumer mentality." – Kiss or Kill, Mark Twight

— Alastair Humphreys (@Al_Humphreys) May 5, 2020

 

 

Try using acquisitive!

Is acquisitive used correctly in the following sentence? 

Children tend to be acquisitive and need to be taught how to share.