impulsive purchasing

[ɪmˈpʌlsɪv ˈpɜːtʃəsɪŋ]
nounpl: impulsive purchases
compra por impulso
1. The act of buying something without planning or careful consideration, often driven by emotion or sudden desire rather than necessity
Her impulsive purchasing at the shopping mall resulted in several items she didn't really need.
Sua compra por impulso no shopping resultou em vários itens que ela não realmente precisava.
2. Unplanned consumer spending triggered by emotional states, marketing stimuli, or immediate gratification
Impulsive purchasing behavior increases during holiday sales and special promotions.
O comportamento de compra por impulso aumenta durante promoções de feriados e liquidações especiais.
Impulsive purchasing is a significant consumer behavior studied extensively in both Brazilian and American markets. In Brazil, during Black Friday and holiday seasons, impulsive purchasing spikes dramatically. American consumer culture, heavily influenced by marketing and e-commerce convenience, shows high rates of impulse buying. Both cultures recognize this behavior as a psychological phenomenon often linked to stress relief, emotional compensation, and the dopamine rush of acquiring new items.
NYC Slang
retail therapy; spur-of-the-moment shopping
Synonyms / Sinônimos
impulse buyingspontaneous purchasingemotional spendingunplanned purchasereactive shopping
Antonyms / Antônimos
planned purchasingdeliberate buyingconscious consumptionrational shoppingbudgeted spending

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
compra por impulso
Most common term used in Brazilian Portuguese for unplanned shopping
São Paulo
compra impulsiva
Alternative form commonly used in business and marketing contexts
Rio de Janeiro
compra na onda
Colloquial regional variation meaning 'buying on a whim'
Portugal
compra impulsiva
European Portuguese preferred term, less frequently uses 'compra por impulso'

Related Words

consumer behaviorretail psychologyshopping addictiondiscretionary spendingcompulsive buyingcognitive biasinstant gratification

Related Idioms & Phrases

shop till you drop
burning a hole in one's pocket
go on a shopping spree
money to burn
impulse buy
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