capitalist

capitalist — noun

1. A person who supports the idea that businesses and land should belong to individ

1.nounC1
Definition

A person who supports the idea that businesses and land should belong to individuals instead of the government, and that economic activity should be driven by the pursuit of profit.

Example

Leila has always supported free markets and calls herself a capitalist.

reflexive: call oneself a capitalist

The debate between the socialist and the capitalist grew heated over dinner.

contrastive pairing: socialist vs capitalist

Common collocations
  • committed capitalist
  • proud capitalist
  • true capitalist
  • free-market capitalist
Synonyms
  • free-marketeer

    more specific — someone who wants minimal government involvement in the economy

  • laissez-faire advocate

    more formal and ideological, referring specifically to the principle of non-intervention

Antonyms
  • socialist

    supports state or collective ownership of businesses and property

  • communist

    supports a system where all property is publicly owned

Grammar Patterns

a [adjective] capitalist

call oneself a capitalist

Usage Note

Frequently used in political or economic discussions to describe someone's view on how the economy should be run. Often paired with adjectives such as 'committed' or 'proud'.

Common Mistakes

My uncle is a capitalist because he owns a small shop.
My uncle is a capitalist because he believes strongly in private ownership and free markets.
this sense is about political/economic beliefs, not merely owning a business.

2. A person who puts large sums of personal wealth into business activities, intend

2.nounB2
Definition

A person who puts large sums of personal wealth into business activities, intending to grow those investments and collect the earnings.

Example

A wealthy capitalist bought the old factory and turned it into a tech hub.

collocation: wealthy capitalist + bought + turned into

The local capitalist agreed to fund the new school's science lab.

capitalist + agreed to fund + [project]

Common collocations
  • venture capitalist
  • wealthy capitalist
  • local capitalist
  • well-known capitalist
Synonyms
  • investor

    broader — anyone who puts money into something, not necessarily wealthy

  • financier

    more formal — someone who arranges large-scale funding, often behind the scenes

  • tycoon

    implies great wealth and power across an industry, less formal register

  • industrialist

    historical — specifically someone who owned factories or manufacturing plants

Grammar Patterns

a [adjective] capitalist

capitalist + verb: bought, funded, invested

Usage Note

Common in the compound term 'venture capitalist', which refers to someone who invests in early-stage companies. This sense focuses on the person's financial role, not their political views.

Common Mistakes

She is a capitalist because she voted for the conservative party.
She is a capitalist because she made her fortune investing in technology companies.
this sense is about having capital invested in business, not political affiliation.

capitalist — adjective

Word family

  • capitalism
    nounC1
  • capitalize
    verbC1
  • capitalization
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

While a capitalist is someone who uses personal wealth to fund businesses, an investor is a broader term for anyone who puts money into something expecting a return — even a small one through a retirement fund. A financier typically arranges large-scale funding for major projects and often works behind the scenes rather than owning businesses directly. A tycoon suggests enormous wealth and influence across an entire industry, with a slightly informal or admiring tone. An industrialist historically referred to someone who owned factories or manufacturing plants, especially during the Industrial Revolution. For example, you might call a tech founder a capitalist for backing start-ups, but a tycoon only after they dominate the global market.

investor ↗financiertycoonindustrialist ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • capitalist economy
  • capitalist society
  • capitalist system

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'capitalist' comes from the French word 'capitaliste', which was formed from 'capital' (wealth or assets) plus the suffix '-iste' meaning a person who does or supports something. The root goes back to the Latin word 'capitalis', meaning 'of the head', from 'caput' (head), because in ancient times wealth was counted in heads of livestock. The term first appeared in English during the 17th century to describe owners of capital, and by the 19th century it had gained its political meaning of someone who supports the capitalist system.