Words / C2

kyoo-PID-uh-tee/kjuːˈpɪdəti/

Cupidity is greed for money or possessions (formal): driven by cupidity. Avarice (already in the dictionary) is a close synonym. Cupid the love god is a false friend — cupidity is not romance. Greed is the plain word.

Meaning

Greed for money or possessions (formal).

Examples

• “The plot is driven by cupidity, not love.”
• “The fraud case was a study in cupidity.”
• “Cupidity, not ideology, explained the vote.”

Good to know

cupidity (formal greed). Close: avarice. Not Cupid/romance. Plain: greed.

Near in meaning

avarice, greed

New