material culture: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2+Academic / Formal
Quick answer
What does “material culture” mean?
The physical objects, artifacts, and physical spaces created and used by a society or group, which reflect their way of life, beliefs, and values.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The physical objects, artifacts, and physical spaces created and used by a society or group, which reflect their way of life, beliefs, and values.
An interdisciplinary field of study within anthropology, archaeology, sociology, and history that examines the relationship between people and their physical, crafted world, analysing how objects embody social meaning and cultural practices.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or primary usage. The term is used identically in academic contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
None specific to either variety; connotations are academic and disciplinary.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday conversation in both varieties, but standard and frequent in relevant university-level academic discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “material culture” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] material culture of the [NOUN PHRASE]to study/analyse/examine material cultureas evidenced by the material cultureMaterial culture provides insights into...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “material culture” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- Material-culture studies have transformed our view of the period.
- She takes a material-culture approach to history.
American English
- The material-culture analysis was published in a leading journal.
- He is a material-culture specialist.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in niche marketing or heritage tourism strategy discussing 'leveraging material culture' for branding.
Academic
Core term in anthropology, archaeology, museum studies, and history. Used to discuss research methods, theoretical frameworks, and findings.
Everyday
Extremely rare. May be used in documentaries, museum visits, or high-level discussions about history.
Technical
Specific, precise term within its academic disciplines, with a shared, defined meaning among specialists.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “material culture”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “material culture”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “material culture”
- Using it as a countable noun in singular reference (e.g., 'a material culture' is usually incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'popular culture' or 'corporate culture'.
- Mispronouncing 'material' with stress on 'ter' (/ˈmæt.ɪr.i.əl/) instead of the standard /məˈtɪə.ri.əl/.
- Using it in informal contexts where 'objects', 'stuff', or 'artifacts' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Artefacts' refers to the individual objects themselves. 'Material culture' is a broader concept that encompasses all physical objects and also the study of their meaning, production, use, and role within a society.
Yes. While often associated with past societies, the study of material culture includes contemporary and recent objects, such as smartphones, furniture, or fashion, analysing them as cultural products.
The most direct opposite is 'non-material culture' or 'intangible culture', which includes language, religion, folklore, music, and social practices that are not physical objects.
No, it is a specialised academic term. You will encounter it in university courses, research papers, museums, and documentaries, but not in casual conversation.
The physical objects, artifacts, and physical spaces created and used by a society or group, which reflect their way of life, beliefs, and values.
Material culture is usually academic / formal in register.
Material culture: in British English it is pronounced /məˈtɪə.ri.əl ˈkʌl.tʃər/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈtɪr.i.əl ˈkʌl.tʃɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated; the term is technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a museum's collection: the MATERIAL things (pottery, tools, clothes) that tell the story of a CULTURE.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBJECTS ARE TEXT (material culture is read/interpreted), OBJECTS ARE MEMORY (material culture stores and transmits cultural knowledge), THE PAST IS BURIED (material culture is excavated/unearthed to understand history).
Practice
Quiz
In which academic field is the term 'material culture' LEAST likely to be a core concept?