Search
Select the dictionary language
a person who accumulates possessions excessively, often to the point of obsession or dysfunction
What is the origin of the term "hoarder" and how is it used?
"hoarder" is an English term that emerged in the early 20th century from the verb "to hoard," meaning to accumulate and store items. It came to describe a person who collects possessions excessively, often obsessively, sometimes to the point of dysfunction or living in cluttered conditions. The term is used in everyday speech, psychological contexts, and media coverage of extreme collecting behavior. It is mildly derogatory when used socially to criticize someone's behavior, but in medical or psychological contexts, it is neutral and descriptive rather than insulting.
