A marketplace trend wherein consumers play an active, influential role in determining and affecting the range and pricing of products and services available, and seek out the information and resources needed to make wiser purchasing decisions.

The name for the complex set of dominant values and practices produced by and arising from life in a consumer society: a historically unique form of society in which consumption plays an important, if not central role. Central to consumerism is the (generally implicit) belief that the organization of life around the purchase of commodities is the optimal way to address the needs and wants of individuals, and even to allocate social goods.

The trend towards consumer-centric health care, direct-to-consumer health care advertising, and increased consumer health care cost sharing.

an aspect of capitalism that encourages the consumption of goods and services

A process of increasing the consumption of goods and services that undermines the environment and exacerbates inequalities

Consumerism is a term used to describe the effects of equating personal happiness with purchasing material possessions and consumption. It is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Karl Marx and Thorstein Veblen. It can be traced back to the first human civilizations.

Until recently, policies and practices meant to protect consumers from bad business practices. Has come to mean a lifestyle focused on the accumulation of material goods at the expense of other values.

Advocating the rights of consumers, as against the efforts of advertisers, (2) the emphasis of advertising and marketing efforts toward creating consumers. These two definitions are almost opposite in meaning, but the former is commonly used today, while the latter was common prior to the 1970s.

a social movement seeking to protect and augment the rights and powers of buyers in relation to sellers. Page 240

Activities of government, business, independent organizations, and consumers designed to protect the rights of consumers.