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What is "conspicuous consumption"

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
conspicuous consumption
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ But one can only take just so much wretched excess and conspicuous consumption.
▪ Even so, a significant number of takeover bids were probably no more than a form of corporate conspicuous consumption.
▪ Foreign imports such as colour television sets and hi-fi systems cram shop windows, catering to demands for conspicuous consumption.
▪ Similarly, conspicuous consumption or display is now regarded as an acceptable form of behaviour.
▪ The creative ones turned their backs on conspicuous consumption and decided in favor of a simpler, personalized lifestyle.
▪ The emergence of stratified societies culminating in states increased conspicuous consumption of precious substances.
▪ They're young and poor and the patriarchal culture they inherit and the conspicuous consumption of their contemporaries sanctions their irresponsibility.
▪ What better forum for conspicuous consumption than the locker-room or the golf club car-park?
Wiktionary
conspicuous consumption

n. A public display of acquisition of possessions with the intention of gaining social prestige; excessive consumerism in order to flaunt one's purchasing power.

WordNet
conspicuous consumption

n. buying expensive services and products in order to flaunt your wealth

Wikipedia
Conspicuous consumption

Conspicuous consumption is the spending of money on and the acquiring of luxury goods and services to publicly display economic power—of the income or of the accumulated wealth of the buyer. To the conspicuous consumer, such a public display of discretionary economic power is a means either of attaining or of maintaining a given social status.

The development of Thorstein Veblen's sociology of conspicuous consumption produced the term invidious consumption, the ostentatious consumption of goods that is meant to provoke the envy of other people; and the term conspicuous compassion, the deliberate use of charitable donations of money in order to enhance the social prestige of the donor, with a display of superior socio-economic status.

Usage examples of "conspicuous consumption".

Furthermore, the Russian leadership frowns on conspicuous consumption, lest the masses get restless.

Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as the fortieth president of the United States, ushering in an era of conspicuous consumption and more sequins than have been seen since thirteenth-century Venice.

Kai had noticed conspicuous consumption the night before and his aggressiveness when Margit suggested he’.

Kai had noticed conspicuous consumption the night before and his aggressiveness when Margit suggested he'd had enough.

Kai had noticed conspicuous consumption the night before and his aggressiveness when Margit suggested hed had enough.

Not for the first time, he was struck by the conspicuous consumption that was so typical of Europe's nobility of the time.

He reminded himself that there had been plenty of conspicuous consumption by rich people in the universe they came from, also.

If I had lived in the heyday of Earth's conspicuous consumption age, I'd have gorged myself on steaks and pastries and-&quot.

The employment of dozens of servants to carry trays and pour drinks is merely an outmoded tradition of conspicuous consumption, something which the Third Prophet enjoined us to abjure at all times.