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shopaholic

American  
[shop-uh-haw-lik, -hol-ik] / ˌʃɒp əˈhɔ lɪk, -ˈhɒl ɪk /

noun

Informal.
  1. a frequent shopper, especially one who is unable to control their spending.


shopaholic British  
/ ˌʃɒpəˈhɒlɪk /

noun

  1. informal a compulsive shopper

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • shopaholism noun

Etymology

Origin of shopaholic

First recorded in 1970–75; shop + -aholic

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.

Lucy Britnell, a self-confessed "shopaholic" from Teesside, has paid for a premier Asos account since 2018, which gives customers free delivery - but has now been banned.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2025

Anyone who has firsthand experience with a shopaholic can tell you it’s a slippery slope that can lead to a whole lot of financial heartache.

From Slate • Sep. 14, 2021

They were from a woman, an heiress, who had died and been a complete shopaholic and hoarder.

From New York Times • Dec. 1, 2020

The second is a series of apologies and excuses for a tax cheat, voyeur-sadist, bad son, skinflint, publicity hound, social climber, shopaholic.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2020

A full 25 years after she starred in the era-defining "Clueless," Alicia Silverstone is still inexorably associated with the sweet shopaholic Cher Horowitz.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2020