Conspicuous consumption means spending your money in such a way that other people can see how wealthy you are.
It was an age of conspicuous consumption–those who had money liked to display it.
conspicuous consumption in British English
noun
spending in a lavish or ostentatious way, esp to impress others with one's wealth
conspicuous consumption in American English
US
showy extravagance in buying or using goods or services, meant to impress others with one's wealth, status, etc.
Word origin
coined by Veblen in The Theory of the Leisure Class
Examples of 'conspicuous consumption' in a sentence
conspicuous consumption
What we saw was wealth and conspicuous consumption beyond the wildest dreams of avarice.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We are not busy because of demanding jobs and conspicuous consumption.
Christianity Today (2000)
The more intelligent young realise that conspicuous consumption is crass and uncool.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The era of conspicuous consumption is over.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Taxpayers are not amused by his cavalier performances nor by his conspicuous consumption.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was conspicuous consumption in miniature all over again.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Has conspicuous consumption given way to conspicuous altruism?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The conspicuous consumption did not go down well with the Uptown upper crust.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was an age of conspicuous consumption in Japan and what followed was a long economic crash.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
If the great role models divest their riches, then charity rather than conspicuous consumption will surely become the fashionable norm.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We're getting past conspicuous consumption.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Few could resist conspicuous consumption.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Spending on luxury goods has bounced back this year, defying fears that an era of economic austerity would descend as conspicuous consumption became unfashionable.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Ironically, this hectic, breathless period of conspicuous consumption would not last very long.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I love its conspicuous consumption.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Like messages about conspicuous consumption, messages that glorify violence have increasingly become a staple of American mass culture.
Nightingale, Carl Husemoller On the Edge: A History of Poor Black Children and Their American Dreams (1993)