careerist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to neutral, common in business, political, and sociological contexts. Often used with a critical or analytical tone.
Quick answer
What does “careerist” mean?
a person whose main goal is to achieve success and advance in their profession, often prioritizing this over other concerns.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a person whose main goal is to achieve success and advance in their profession, often prioritizing this over other concerns.
Often implies a single-minded, ambitious focus on professional advancement, sometimes with negative connotations of opportunism, ruthlessness, or placing career above personal ethics, relationships, or broader social values.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are very similar. Slightly more common in British media/political commentary. The pejorative sense is strong in both varieties.
Connotations
Predominantly negative in both, suggesting excessive ambition, opportunism, and neglect of other duties or values.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both. Common in critiques of corporate culture, politics, and professional environments.
Grammar
How to Use “careerist” in a Sentence
[be] labeled a careerist[be] seen as a careerist[be] driven by careerist motives[accuse] someone of being a careeristVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “careerist” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The article painted the new ministers as nothing more than political careerists.
- He was criticised for his careerist approach to the humanitarian project.
American English
- The firm's culture was changing, attracting more ruthless careerists than dedicated engineers.
- She rejected the careerist label, arguing her work was mission-driven.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically to describe colleagues or a culture overly focused on promotion and personal gain at the expense of teamwork or ethics.
Academic
Used in sociology, political science, and management studies to analyze professional motivation and organisational behavior.
Everyday
Less common; used to criticise someone perceived as overly ambitious or unscrupulous in their job.
Technical
Not a technical term, but used descriptively in HR and organisational psychology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “careerist”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “careerist”
- Using it as a positive term (e.g., 'She's a real careerist!' intended as a compliment). Misspelling as 'carreerist' or 'carearist'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it is predominantly negative. In neutral academic or descriptive contexts, it can simply denote a person highly focused on career advancement without an automatic judgement. However, in most everyday, political, or business usage, it carries a critical tone.
'Ambitious' is neutral or positive, describing a strong desire to succeed. 'Careerist' implies that this ambition is the primary or sole driving force, often at the expense of ethics, loyalty, or work-life balance. Ambition is about achieving goals; careerism is about advancing a career as an end in itself.
Yes, though less common than the noun form. Example: 'careerist ambitions', 'a careerist attitude'. It functions as a noun adjunct or attributive noun.
There is no direct single-word antonym. Depending on context, opposites could include 'idealist' (one motivated by principles, not advancement), 'altruist' (motivated by helping others), or phrases like 'unambitious employee' or 'person with a balanced lifestyle'.
a person whose main goal is to achieve success and advance in their profession, often prioritizing this over other concerns.
Careerist is usually formal to neutral, common in business, political, and sociological contexts. often used with a critical or analytical tone. in register.
Careerist: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈrɪər.ɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈrɪr.ɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A careerist at heart.”
- “Driven by careerist ambitions.”
- “Climb the careerist ladder.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CAREER' + '-ist' (like 'specialist'). A person who specialises in their own career advancement, often to an extreme.
Conceptual Metaphor
CAREER IS A PATH/UPWARD JOURNEY. A careerist is someone single-mindedly racing up that path, often pushing others aside.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'careerist' LEAST likely to be pejorative?