A person who pursues professional advancement and personal success primarily, often at the cost of principles or integrity.
From career + -ist (suffix forming those who practice or follow something). Developed alongside careerism in 20th-century English as sociological vocabulary expanded.
The term 'careerist' is actually loaded with judgment—unlike 'ambitious person,' it implies someone has sacrificed their values, showing how English word choice can embed moral criticism into vocabulary.
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