What does "materialist" mean?
Someone who is materialistic, concerned only with material possessions.
Materialist
/məˈtiːɹɪəlɪst/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone who is materialistic, concerned only with material possessions.
- Grammar: materialist is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: adherent, consumerist, earthling, iconoclast.
- Useful contrasts: animistic, cartesian, hermetic.
- Usage evidence: We should read the following, excerpted from "Espero Katolika" (January 1921), about the 7th Congress of Catholic Esperantists: "During that congress in Graz, we will have to found a very strong international army against the powers of blind revolution, against materialist Bolshevism, dangerous anarchism, the anti-ecclesiastic action of the Freemasons, etc..." So the Catholics are already using Esperanto to oppose our activity, to prevent our liberation.
How to use "materialist"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "materialist" 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 "materialist" 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 "materialist" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "materialist" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "materialist" is acting as adj, 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 "adherent" 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.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "materialist", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
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 Someone who is materialistic, concerned only with material possessions.
"Ironically, today's generation has become the little materialists and "fame whores" (New York Magazine's term) their boomer parents so reviled."
- 2 someone who thinks that nothing exists but physical matter wordnet
- 3 A follower or proponent of philosophical materialism.
"It is weary work enough to argue with an ordinary materialist, who hurls statistics and whole strata of geological facts at your head, whilst you can only buffet him with deductions and instincts and the snowflakes of faith, that are, alas! so apt to melt in the hot embers of our troubles."
- 4 someone with great regard for material possessions wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Having features typical of philosophical materialism.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"We should read the following, excerpted from "Espero Katolika" (January 1921), about the 7th Congress of Catholic Esperantists: "During that congress in Graz, we will have to found a very strong international army against the powers of blind revolution, against materialist Bolshevism, dangerous anarchism, the anti-ecclesiastic action of the Freemasons, etc..." So the Catholics are already using Esperanto to oppose our activity, to prevent our liberation."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "materialist"?
Common synonyms include: adherent, consumerist, earthling, iconoclast, marxist, materialist philosopher.
How do you use "materialist" in a sentence?
We should read the following, excerpted from "Espero Katolika" (January 1921), about the 7th Congress of Catholic Esperantists: "During that congress in Graz, we will have to found a very strong international army against the powers of blind revolution, against materialist Bolshevism, dangerous anarchism, the anti-ecclesiastic action of the Freemasons, etc..." So the Catholics are already using Esperanto to oppose our activity, to prevent our liberation.
How do you pronounce "materialist"?
Pronounced /məˈtiːɹɪəlɪst/.
Etymology
From material + -ist.