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Added 10 October 2026

capitalism

/ˈkapɪt(ə)lɪz(ə)m/ noun

In Latin: capitālismus First recorded: 1854 Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about capitalism at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An economic system based on private ownership of capital.

Origin

Borrowed from French capitalisme (“the condition of one who is rich”); equivalent to capital + -ism. Derived from Proto-Indo-European *káput (“head”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-. First used in English by novelist William Thackeray in The Newcomes [1854-1855].

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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