capitalism

/ˈkæpɪtəlɪzəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkæpɪtəlɪzəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈka-pə-tə-ˌliz-əm ˈkap-tə-/ (ame, mw)

capitalism — noun

1. a way of organising a country's economy in which factories, land, and most compa

1.名詞C2
釋義

a way of organising a country's economy in which factories, land, and most companies belong to individuals or groups of investors instead of the government, and where what gets produced and sold is shaped mainly by competition among sellers seeking profit.

例句

Many high-school textbooks describe capitalism as a system built on private ownership and competing firms.

definitional pattern: 'capitalism as a system built on...'

Under capitalism, a baker can decide what bread to make and what price to charge.

preposition: under capitalism (typical framing)

同義詞
  • free enterprise

    emphasises the freedom of private firms to operate with little government control

  • free market

    highlights the role of supply and demand setting prices, rather than ownership

  • market economy

    neutral, technical term often preferred in economics writing

反義詞
  • socialism

    system in which the government or community owns the main industries

  • communism

    stronger contrast — abolishes private ownership of productive property

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable and used without an article ('under capitalism', 'in a capitalism' is wrong). Often appears with a descriptive adjective ('industrial / global / modern / late capitalism') that names a stage or version of the system.

常見錯誤

❌She studies a capitalism in Europe.
✅She studies capitalism in Europe.
💡capitalism is uncountable; do not use 'a/an' before it.
❌My uncle owns a small capitalism in Taipei.
✅My uncle owns a small business in Taipei.
💡capitalism names the whole system, not a single company.