Capitalism
Etymology
From Latin caput, “head,” which gave “capital” — originally counted in heads of cattle, then in money and productive wealth. “Capitalist” named a wealth-holder before “capitalism” named the system; the -ism spread in the mid-to-late nineteenth century, notably through critics like Marx, and was then adopted by defenders too. It is now used descriptively across the political spectrum.
noun · /KAP-ih-tuh-liz-um/
An economic system built on private ownership of the means of production, wage labor, and the coordination of activity through markets and profit.
What it names
The default frame for most modern economic life — how prices, investment, and competition allocate resources when property is largely held privately.
Example
The debate wasn’t really for or against capitalism but about which rules and safety nets should shape it.
Related idea
Mercantilism, an earlier system, treated national wealth as a fixed hoard of bullion to be maximized through trade surpluses; capitalism instead centers private capital and open competition.