babbittry
|bab-it-try|
/ˈbæbɪtri/
conformist materialism
Etymology
'babbittry' originates from English, specifically the name 'Babbitt' from Sinclair Lewis's novel 'Babbitt' (1922), where the character 'Babbitt' embodied narrow‑minded, materialistic conformity.
'babbittry' developed from the proper name 'Babbitt' and related adjectival forms (such as 'Babbittian') into the common noun 'babbittry' used to denote the character's traits in general usage.
Initially it referred specifically to the attitudes of the fictional character 'Babbitt' in Lewis's novel; over time it evolved into a general term for complacent, conventional, and materialistic behavior.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the qualities or behavior associated with a 'Babbitt': narrow‑minded, self‑satisfied, materialistic conformity and conventionality.
The CEO's unthinking praise of profit above all else was pure babbittry.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/23 00:46