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Expenditure on or consumption of luxuries on a lavish scale in an attempt to enhance one's prestige.
‘an age of increasing conspicuous consumption’
‘these mansions were seen as monstrous monuments to conspicuous consumption’
‘The affluence of ordinary consumers manifested itself in a growing market for luxury items, conspicuous consumption, and very short product cycles.’
‘Legislators have penalized certain forms of conspicuous consumption by imposing luxury taxes on expensive cars, yachts, and other items.’
‘In Thailand, a cappuccino costs the equivalent of three bowls of noodles, enhancing its potential for conspicuous consumption.’
‘Equating conspicuous consumption with hospitality, Beverly pours endless drinks down everyone's throats.’
‘Conspicuous consumption and wealth in material goods can set up tensions - people whose basic needs are satisfied do not realise they are poor until they become aware that others have more.’
‘Dress codes have relaxed over the last generation, but the conspicuous consumption of important symbols of wealth and success provides important strategies for class mobility and social advancement.’
‘Renowned for its love of magnificent display and for its conspicuous consumption of material wealth, the Burgundian court did much to shape the development of Flemish illumination.’
‘The roots of hip hop's infatuation with expensive, outrageous and overtly customised motor vehicles lie in ghetto fabulous, the trend for conspicuous consumption.’
‘Conspicuous consumption has never been more evident than in the explosion of the bottled water business.’
‘Don't celebrate the fact that you're like everyone else, with your SUVs that never go off-road, your all-star kids and your conspicuous consumption.’
‘The nouveau riche engage in many forms of conspicuous consumption, including expensive cars, cellular phones, designer clothing, and the display of trophy wives and mistresses.’
‘Society observers and media sources agree that conspicuous consumption has exploded in the past decade.’
‘If England was marked out from the rest of Britain and Ireland by the quantity of its stone building by 1100, it was also distinguished by its conspicuous consumption.’
‘In the past bringing in a professional would have been seen as a luxury or a form of conspicuous consumption.’
‘Academic and corporate titles are seldom used, and conspicuous consumption is condemned.’
‘The bourgeoisie were those who lacked the great honour associated with nobility, but enjoyed a lesser prestige that came from being educated, having enough wealth to engage in conspicuous consumption, and avoiding manual labour.’