English · Word Candidate

capitalist

/ˈkæp.ɪ.tə.lɪst/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: capitalists

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Of, or pertaining to, capitalism.

Adjective

Examples

capitalist economy

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Supporting or endorsing capitalism.

Adjective

Examples

Well, I thank you for your question, but I have to say we're capitalist—and that is just the way it is. However, we do think that capitalism is not necessarily meeting the needs with the income inequality that we have in our country.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

The owner of a considerable amount of capital; a wealthy person.

Noun

Examples

Very little of capital acquired in commerce is directed towards agriculture, save where a wealthy capitalist purchases lands for his own use; but it is seldom, if ever, applied to the improvement of the country, in the hands of the original landholders.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

Someone whose wealth (capital) is invested in business ventures in order to return a profit.

Noun

Examples

Near-synonyms: businessman, financier, industrialist

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “capitalist” mean?

Of, or pertaining to, capitalism.

Is “capitalist” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.