1. Someone who has a compulsive and uncontrollable desire to go shopping and to procure as many things as possible: Even though Mike's wife never has the funds to pay for them, she has no control over herself to stop trying to get all kinds of items from various shopping centers.

The characteristics of oniomaniacs and their shopping disorders include:

• A preoccupation with shopping for unneeded items.
• Spending a great deal of time doing research on desired items and/or shopping for unneeded items.
• Financial difficulties because of uncontrolled shopping.
• Problems at work, school or home because of uncontrolled shopping.

Research has shown that the shopping behaviors of oniomaniacs are often accompanied by depression, anxiety and other negative emotions.

Common articles purchased by an oniomaniac include clothes, shoes, jewelry and household items; such as, containers, dishes, etc., with many oniomaniacs being unable to resist items; especially, when they are on sale.

Most oniomaniacs prefer to shop alone or online rather than having potential embarrassments by shopping with someone else.

2. Etymology: from Greek onios, "for sale" and mania, "a craze"; from the Greek via Latin, "madness".

The following cartoon helps to understand what an oniomaniac is even though it is referring to oniomania.

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