Capitalism
/ˈkæpɪtəlɪzəm/noun
An economic system in which private individuals or businesses own and control property and trade for profit.
Did you know?Capitalism ultimately traces back to Latin *caput* meaning “head,” the same root behind words like *captain* and *chapter*—a reminder that power and leadership were once literally “head” words.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kaput-
“head”
Latin
Latin
caput
“head”
Late Latin
Latin
capitalis
“of the head; principal; relating to property or wealth”
18th Century
French
capitalisme
“the state or condition of capital; later, an economic system based on capital”
19th Century
English
capitalism
“an economic system organized around capital and private ownership”
Modern English
English
capitalism
“the dominant economic system based on private ownership and profit”