capitalist

1 of 2

noun

cap·​i·​tal·​ist ˈka-pə-tə-list How to pronounce capitalist (audio)
ˈkap-tə-
Synonyms of capitalistnext
1
: a person who has capital especially invested in business
industrial capitalists
broadly : a person of wealth : plutocrat
Charitable organizations often seek help from capitalists.
2
: a person who favors capitalism

capitalist

2 of 2

adjective

variants or capitalistic
ˌka-pə-tə-ˈli-stik How to pronounce capitalist (audio)
ˌkap-tə-
1
: owning capital
the capitalist class
2
a
: practicing or advocating capitalism
capitalist nations
b
: marked by capitalism
capitalist period of history
capitalistically
ˌka-pə-tə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce capitalist (audio)
ˌkap-tə-
adverb

Synonyms of capitalist

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Noun

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Examples of capitalist in a Sentence

Noun capitalists who lost everything in the '29 Crash
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The prevalence of tech firms as hotspots for talent signals a wider boom amid Australia’s startup scene, which in recent years has been attracting attention and investments from venture capitalists. — Charlotte Hu, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 Tech Startups By the time Morgan Stanley took Apple public in December 1980 at $22 a share, Rosen was onto his next career as a venture capitalist. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Its storyline spins the futile, determined chase of Wile to one day capture Roadrunner as something admirable, and applies that underdog mentality to the average person trying to navigate a late capitalist landscape that values profits over people. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026 Political radicals have found purchase in Democratic primaries in part because of disgust with our present system of capitalist greed, self-dealing and multi-card monte with all cards in the president du jour’s hands. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for capitalist

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably borrowed from French capitaliste "person possessing capital," from capital capital entry 2 + -iste -ist entry 1

Adjective

capital entry 2 + -ist entry 2, after capitalist entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of capitalist was in 1774

Phrases Containing capitalist

Browse Nearby Words

capital issue
capitalist
capitalization
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Cite this Entry

“Capitalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitalist. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

capitalist

noun
cap·​i·​tal·​ist
ˈkap-ət-ᵊl-əst, 
ˈkap-tᵊl-
1
: a person who has capital and especially business capital
2
: a person who supports capitalism
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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