capitalist
Americannoun
-
a person who has capital, especially extensive capital, invested in business enterprises.
-
an advocate of capitalism.
-
a very wealthy person.
noun
-
a person who owns capital, esp capital invested in a business
-
politics a supporter of capitalism
-
informal a rich person
adjective
Other Word Forms
- anticapitalist noun
- capitalistic adjective
- noncapitalist noun
- precapitalist noun
- procapitalist noun
Etymology
Origin of capitalist
Explanation
Someone who hopes to profit by investing money or financing business ventures is a capitalist. A nation's economy is described as capitalist if it's based on private ownership and profit. The word capitalist appeared in 1791, taken from the French word capitaliste. A capitalist is someone who believes in the economic philosophy of Capitalism, a system of privately-owned, for-profit businesses. A capitalist might believe in free enterprise and the individual’s ability to gain wealth through intelligence and hard work. Capitalist can also be used to describe a self-interested, every-man-for-himself approach to the world.
Vocabulary lists containing capitalist
East Asia - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
East Asia - High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Russia - Middle School and High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With “Beef,” Lee links the potential liabilities women face by locking into long-term relationships to the realities of the capitalist trap, which draws women into not only unpaid housework but uncompensated emotional labor, too.
From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026
“I’m not going to be involved in any efforts to push back,” said venture capitalist Bradley Tusk.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
Her biggest deal to date: a $51 million land acquisition closed alongside venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, positioned among high-profile neighbors that include Bill Gates, Toll Brothers, and the Howard Hughes Corp.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen famously said in 2011 External link that software is eating the world.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
“A cat is a cat. There are no foreign cats, no Chinese cats, no capitalist cats, no Communist cats. Just cats.”
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
