Which 1899 book introduced the term conspicuous consumption?

The Theory of the Leisure Class, published in 1899, introduced the term conspicuous consumption.

American economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen coined the phrase to describe spending intended to display wealth and social status rather than simply satisfy practical needs. He examined the behavior of wealthy Americans during the Gilded Age, when industrial fortunes and highly visible luxury were reshaping social life.

Veblen connected conspicuous consumption with “pecuniary emulation”: people imitate the consumption patterns of higher-status groups to signal prestige. Expensive clothing, elaborate homes, lavish meals, and luxury goods can therefore serve as social messages as much as material possessions.

The book also introduced the related idea of conspicuous leisure, in which visible freedom from productive work signals status. A common mistake is treating conspicuous consumption as any expensive purchase. For Veblen, its defining feature is the public display of economic power. The concept later influenced sociology, marketing, and the study of consumer culture.