materialist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, academic
Quick answer
What does “materialist” mean?
A person who believes that nothing exists except physical matter and its interactions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who believes that nothing exists except physical matter and its interactions; someone who is primarily concerned with material possessions and physical comfort.
1. A proponent of the philosophical doctrine that matter is the fundamental substance of reality. 2. A person who is preoccupied with acquiring material goods and wealth, often at the expense of spiritual or intellectual values. 3. In Marxist theory, someone who interprets historical development through the lens of economic and material conditions (e.g., dialectical materialist).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical or grammatical differences. The philosophical sense is more common in academic writing in both regions. The pejorative sense might be slightly more frequent in US pop-culture discourse on consumerism.
Connotations
Both regions share the dual connotations (neutral philosophical, negative personal). In British discourse, it may sometimes carry a class-related nuance (e.g., 'nouveau riche materialist').
Frequency
Comparatively low-frequency word in general use, but standard in philosophical, sociological, and critical contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “materialist” in a Sentence
[be/become] + materialist[describe/label/call] + [someone] + a materialist[argue/live] + like a materialist[materialist] + in + [outlook/philosophy]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “materialist” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A. 'Materialist' is not used as a verb. The related verb is 'materialize'.
American English
- N/A. 'Materialist' is not used as a verb. The related verb is 'materialize'.
adverb
British English
- N/A. No direct adverb form. Use 'materialistically'.
American English
- N/A. No direct adverb form. Use 'materialistically'.
adjective
British English
- N/A. The standard adjective form is 'materialistic'. Example: His materialist outlook was evident. (Here 'materialist' is a noun used attributively).
American English
- N/A. The standard adjective form is 'materialistic'. Example: The materialist philosophy was debated. (Here 'materialist' is a noun used attributively).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. If used, implies a customer or executive motivated solely by profit and tangible rewards.
Academic
Common in philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, and Marxist theory. Usually neutral or technical.
Everyday
Used critically to describe someone overly focused on money, brands, and luxury goods.
Technical
Precise term in philosophy denoting opposition to idealism; in cultural theory, describes an analytical focus on economic bases.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “materialist”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “materialist”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “materialist”
- Confusing 'materialist' (noun) with 'materialistic' (adjective). 'He is very materialist' is less common than 'He is very materialistic.'
- Using 'materialist' to mean a person who supplies materials (that is a 'supplier' or 'vendor').
- Misspelling as 'materialistic' when the noun form is intended.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Materialist' is primarily a noun (a person). 'Materialistic' is the adjective describing such a person or their outlook (e.g., 'materialistic values'). 'Materialist' can be used attributively as a noun modifier (e.g., 'materialist philosophy').
Rarely. In academic philosophy, it is a neutral label for a school of thought. In everyday use, it is almost always critical, implying greed, superficiality, or a lack of deeper values.
Not exactly. In philosophy, 'materialism' is a type of 'realism' (belief in an objective reality), but specifically one where that reality is composed of matter. A realist might believe in non-material objective realities (like abstract concepts), which a materialist would deny.
An ascetic, a minimalist, or a spiritualist. In the philosophical sense, the direct opposite is an idealist or a dualist.
A person who believes that nothing exists except physical matter and its interactions.
Materialist is usually formal, academic in register.
Materialist: in British English it is pronounced /məˈtɪə.ri.ə.lɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈtɪr.i.ə.lɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Champagne socialist (as a contrasting type, UK)”
- “Keeping up with the Joneses (describes materialist behavior)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Materialist' cares about 'material' – either the physical stuff of the universe or the physical stuff in the shops.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS WEALTH / REALITY IS PHYSICAL
Practice
Quiz
In a strictly philosophical context, a 'materialist' is primarily opposed to which of the following?