materialism

2 synonyms and 2 antonyms for materialism, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A strong focus on owning possessions and acquiring wealth, often at the expense of other values.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

physicalism philistinism

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A strong focus on owning possessions and acquiring wealth, often at the expense of other values.

“Critics accuse the holiday season of encouraging materialism.”

physicalism philistinism

Opposites

spirituality

2. noun

In philosophy, the view that only physical matter exists and that the mind and consciousness can be explained by it.

“The philosopher defended a strict materialism, denying that anything exists beyond the physical world.”

Opposites

idealism

How to use materialism

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

rampant materialism reject materialism philosophical materialism

Etymology

From French matérialisme, built from material + the suffix -ism.

Full origin of materialism →

Frequently asked questions

What does “materialism” mean?

The word “materialism” means a strong focus on owning possessions and acquiring wealth, often at the expense of other values. In plain terms, caring too much about money and possessions, or, in philosophy, the belief that everything is ultimately physical.

How do you pronounce “materialism”?

“Materialism” is pronounced muh-TEER-ree-uh-lih-zuhm (/məˈtɪɹiəlɪzəm/ in IPA).

How do you use “materialism” in a sentence?

Here is “materialism” used in a sentence: “Critics accuse the holiday season of encouraging materialism.”

What part of speech is “materialism”?

“Materialism” is a noun.

Where does the word “materialism” come from?

The word “materialism” comes from French. From French matérialisme, built from material + the suffix -ism.

Is “materialism” a common word?

“Materialism” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “materialism” have?

“Materialism” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong focus on owning possessions and acquiring wealth, often at the expense of other values.

Related words

idealism materialist materialistic physicalism

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Nearby words

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