What does mammonish mean?
Mammonish describes a person, attitude, or way of life marked by greed for wealth and excessive attachment to material possessions. The adjective is more than a neutral synonym for materialistic: it carries a strongly negative, often moral or religious judgment, suggesting that money has become an object of devotion or has displaced more important values. It can characterize individuals, corporate behavior, social attitudes, or a broader cultural mood. For example, critics might describe a ruthless business culture or a society fixated on status and possessions as mammonish. The word is relatively uncommon in ordinary conversation and sounds formal, literary, or denunciatory. It derives from Mammon, the biblical personification of wealth and avarice, giving it a long history of associations with avarice, idolatry, and the moral danger of pursuing earthly gain.
adjectiveCharacterized by greed for wealth or by an excessive attachment to material possessions.
- Greedy for wealth; excessively materialistic.
"Her mammonish attitude led her to measure every relationship in terms of financial gain."
"The corporation's mammonish pursuit of profit came at the expense of its employees."
"Her speech was dismissed as mammonish and self-serving."
Mammonish carries the moral weight of one of the Bible's most famous warnings: the pursuit of wealth can become a rival to spiritual devotion.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of mammonish
Mammonish derives from Mammon, the name used in the Bible and later literature for the personification of worldly wealth and avarice. Mammon entered English through Greek and Latin from a Hebrew word meaning wealth or possessions, though the ultimate origin of that Hebrew term is uncertain. The adjective became established in English during the early modern period, when Mammon was frequently invoked in religious and political warnings against greed.
Related word forms
How mammonish is actually used
This is a relatively uncommon literary and moralizing term, usually derogatory. It is stronger and more explicitly judgmental than materialistic and often implies selfish attachment to money rather than merely valuing material possessions.
Easily confused with mammonish
Mammon is the personification of avarice or worldly wealth, whereas mammonish is an adjective describing greed or materialistic behavior.