mammonism
Very rareLiterary, formal, theological
Definition
Meaning
The worship of wealth; the greedy pursuit of material riches as the chief aim of life.
A socio-economic system or personal philosophy that prioritises the relentless acquisition of money and material possessions, often leading to ethical compromise, selfishness, and a devaluation of spiritual or non-material concerns.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is an abstract, critical term, often used to characterise a system, doctrine, or prevailing mindset rather than an individual's single act. It implies an organised or ingrained pattern of behaviour. The concept derives from the personification of wealth in the Bible (Mammon).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Slightly more likely to appear in British theological or socialist critique due to historical literary use.
Connotations
Consistently negative in both varieties, connoting idolatry, moral corruption, and systemic greed.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency in both. It is a lexicalised concept, not an active part of everyday vocabulary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The] mammonism of [noun phrase] (the mammonism of the corporation)[Adjective] mammonism (crass mammonism)Mammonism [verb] (Mammonism corrupts).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms; the word itself is a conceptual idiom.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Never used positively; used in critical discourse about business ethics.
Academic
Used in sociology, theology, ethics, and literary criticism to describe a societal trend or ideology.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Not a technical term in finance or economics; remains in the realm of social critique.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable; the verb would be 'to mammonise', which is obsolete and not used.
American English
- Not applicable; the verb would be 'to mammonise', which is obsolete and not used.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable; no standard adverb form exists.
American English
- Not applicable; no standard adverb form exists.
adjective
British English
- His worldview was thoroughly mammonistic, valuing portfolio growth above all else.
American English
- The film offered a mammonistic critique of Wall Street culture.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Too complex for A2. Provide simpler related concept): Some people think only about money.
- The book criticises the mammonism of modern society, where success is only measured by wealth.
- His sermon decried the corrosive effects of mammonism, which he saw as a modern idolatry substituting spiritual fulfilment with financial gain.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'MAMMoth' pile of money. 'Mammon-ISM' is the belief system that worships that huge pile.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS A FALSE GOD / THE PURSUIT OF WEALTH IS A RELIGION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как «мамонизм» – это калька, непонятная. Лучше описательно: «погоня за богатством как за идолом», «обожествление денег».
- Не путать с «материализмом» (философским термином), хотя значения пересекаются.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to describe a single greedy person (it's a system/belief).
- Pronouncing it /meɪmənɪzəm/.
- Confusing it with 'Mammoth-ism'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core concept of 'mammonism'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and used primarily in formal, literary, or theological criticism.
They are closely related. 'Materialism' is a broader philosophical focus on the material world. 'Mammonism' is more specific and critical, implying an active, almost religious worship or greedy pursuit of money itself.
Almost never. It is a term of critique and condemnation.
It derives from 'Mammon', a Biblical term (from Aramaic via Greek and Latin) personifying wealth or greed, often treated as a false god. The suffix '-ism' denotes a system or doctrine.