careerism

[ kuh-reer-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. devotion to a successful career, often at the expense of one's personal life, ethics, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of careerism¹

First recorded in 1930–35; career + -ism

Example Sentences

Wolf, as Diane Fisher, an early staffer, recalls, “was a big believer in amateurism rather than careerism.”

From Los Angeles Times

Unfortunately, the mainstream media, for a variety of reasons including intellectual laziness and careerism, is clinging desperately onto those fictions of folk democracy even when the evidence is abundant and obvious to the contrary.

From Salon

Beyond moral cowardice, careerism, "bothsideism", "centrism", and financial concerns, many people in the mainstream news media and Fourth Estate are uncomfortable with big ideas about society and politics.

From Salon

But as an institution, the American news media continues to be driven by profits, access and careerism.

From Salon

They are “susceptible to peer pressure, careerism, ambition and fear of cancel culture, just like the rest of us,” he wrote.

From Washington Post