What does "materialism" mean?
Constant concern over material possessions and wealth; a great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.
Materialism
/məˈtɪɹiəlɪzəm/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Constant concern over material possessions and wealth; a great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.
- Grammar: materialism is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: physicalism, acquisitiveness, adam, animalism.
- Useful contrasts: philosophical immateriality, simple living, spiritual revival.
- Usage evidence: Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.
How to use "materialism"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "materialism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "materialism" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "materialism" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "materialism" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "physicalism" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Constant concern over material possessions and wealth; a great or excessive regard for worldly concerns. countable, uncountable
"We accept that a third of the population live on the poverty line. We accept that only a handful of the most exceptional of the children of the poor will make it through to a third-level education. We accept massive examples of greed and dishonesty in public life. We except the values of materialism. What do we expect then—to be left un-harassed, we who have all the privileges?"
- 2 (philosophy) the philosophical theory that matter is the only reality wordnet
- 3 The philosophical belief that nothing exists beyond what is physical. countable, uncountable
"The result of the labours of philosophy appeared to be a total scepticism on the most important subjects of hu man duty and expectation. The irregular fears of a future state had been supplanted by the materialism of Epicurus; and this system—if system it may be called, which left them without a God, a providence, a morality, or a retribution—was the fashionable philosophy of the more cultivated classes."
- 4 a desire for wealth and material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters wordnet
- 5 Material substances in the aggregate; matter. countable, obsolete, rare, uncountable
Antonyms
Example
"Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "materialism"?
Common synonyms include: physicalism, acquisitiveness, adam, animalism, animality, atomism.
How do you use "materialism" in a sentence?
Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.
How do you pronounce "materialism"?
Pronounced /məˈtɪɹiəlɪzəm/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French matérialisme. By surface analysis, material + -ism.