rent seeking

A form of rent-seeking — The attempt to profit by manipulating the economic or political environment, for example, by seeking governmental action that restricts entry into a market.

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Meanings

nounrent seeking (uncountable)
  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of rent-seeking.

    The primary complaint leveled against financialization of economies is that much of this activity is geared towards rent seeking.

    2015, Martin Ford, The Rise of the Robots, Oneworld Publications

Synonyms & antonyms

noun(economics) the theory that a person or firm seeks to make money by manipulating the economic environment rather than by making a profit through production or trade

Similar
rent-seeking
Broader
economic theory
Also see
rent-seeking

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

rent seeking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rent%20seeking

MLA

“rent seeking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rent%20seeking. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rent seeking,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rent%20seeking.

Source: rent seeking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.