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

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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 race pits Thompson, a veteran lawmaker who has represented much of the region for nearly three decades, against Jones, a former venture capitalist and philanthropist. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026 Both are works in that long tradition of castaways forced to survive, but in many ways, Crusoe—a colonist and capitalist and the later a jaundiced observer of the worst excesses of those systems—is the opposite of Gulliver. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The following decade, his Cultural Revolution violently sought to purge capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society and created a cult of personality around him. — Tom Williams, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 Fittingly, Gentling the Horse’s overriding theme is a fascination with the oddballs who scrape by on the fringes of capitalist society. — Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 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 Nov. 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
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