materialist
/məˈtɪə.ri.ə.lɪst/A materialist is a person who cares a lot about money, possessions, and physical comfort. It can also mean someone who believes that only physical things are real.
- He was called a materialist for loving luxury brands.
- The philosopher was a materialist, not an idealist.
Materialist describes a person, attitude, or view that values money and possessions highly. It can also describe a belief that only physical matter exists.
- Her friends thought her taste was too materialist.
- The book explores a materialist view of human life.
Adinary Nuance
A materialist is stronger than someone who is simply practical or ambitious. It suggests too much interest in money or things, not just a desire to succeed. In philosophy, it has a different meaning: someone who believes physical matter is the basic reality. That philosophical use is more formal and less common in everyday speech.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- duy vật
- Spanish
- materialista
- Chinese
- 唯物主义者
- Japanese
- 唯物論者
- Korean
- 물질주의자
Etymology
Materialist comes from material, from Late Latin materialis, plus the ending -ist. It appeared in English in the 17th century, first in philosophy, then in everyday use.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is materialist the same as materialistic?
- They are very close. Materialistic is more common in everyday English, while materialist is often a noun or a more formal adjective.
- Is materialist a negative word?
- Usually, yes. It often suggests a person cares too much about money or possessions.
- Can materialist be used in philosophy?
- Yes. In philosophy, it means a person who believes only physical matter is real.
- What is the difference between materialist and practical?
- Practical means useful and sensible. Materialist means focused on money, possessions, or physical things.