cupidity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/RareFormal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “cupidity” mean?
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain; avarice.
An intense, often insatiable desire for money or possessions. It implies a degree of moral deficiency in the desire, more severe than simple ambition. It can also be extended metaphorically to an excessive desire for power, status, or abstract things.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or frequency. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Both BrE and AmE use it with the same strong negative moral connotation. In AmE, it might appear slightly more in political or economic journalism.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both. Slightly more likely in written, analytical contexts than in speech.
Grammar
How to Use “cupidity” in a Sentence
The cupidity of [person/group]cupidity for [wealth/power]cupidity led to [negative consequence]motivated by cupidityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cupidity” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The historian attributed the empire's collapse to the sheer cupidity of its ruling class.
- His actions were a transparent display of personal cupidity.
American English
- The scandal revealed a culture of cupidity at the highest levels of the firm.
- Their land grab was an act of pure cupidity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in critiques of unethical corporate behaviour, e.g., 'The merger was driven more by executive cupidity than strategic sense.'
Academic
Common in history, economics, philosophy, and literature to critique systems or individuals, e.g., 'The cupidity of colonial powers is a central theme.'
Everyday
Virtually never used. Replaced by 'greed' or 'money-grabbing'.
Technical
Not a technical term. Used descriptively in socio-economic or ethical analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cupidity”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cupidity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cupidity”
- Using it as a positive trait (always negative).
- Confusing it with 'Cupid' (the love god).
- Using it in casual conversation (register mismatch).
- Misspelling as 'cupidity' (correct: cupidity).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, both come from Latin 'cupido' meaning 'desire'. Cupid is the personification of desire (for love), while cupidity refers to a harmful desire (for wealth).
No, it is exclusively negative. It describes an excessive and morally blameworthy desire.
They are synonyms, but 'cupidity' is more formal, literary, and often implies a more profound or systemic moral failing than the more general 'greed'.
No, it is a rare, C2-level word. In most contexts, 'greed', 'avarice', or 'rapacity' are more likely choices.
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
Cupidity is usually formal, literary in register.
Cupidity: in British English it is pronounced /kjuːˈpɪdɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /kjuːˈpɪdɪti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly found in idioms. The concept is expressed directly.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Roman god Cupid, who shoots arrows of DESIRE. Cupidity is an intense, corrupted desire—not for love, but for money.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH/OBJECT OF GREED IS A DEVOURING FORCE (e.g., 'consumed by cupidity'), A DISEASE (e.g., 'a sickness of cupidity'), or A BLINDING AGENT (e.g., 'blind cupidity').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'cupidity' correctly?