materialism
gb/mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/ us/mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
abstract
1
focus on money and possessions
thinking that money and things you own are the most important.
Usage pattern:
materialism; the materialism of [a person/society]; accuse [someone] of materialism
Common mistake:
Do not confuse materialism (a value system) with materials (substances like wood or metal).
Synonyms
consumerism (emphasizes buying and consuming goods as a lifestyle.)
|
greed (focuses on selfish desire for more, not necessarily status goods.)
|
acquisitiveness (suggests a strong desire to acquire and own things.)
Antonyms
idealism (prioritizing ideals and principles over practical gain or possessions.)
|
spirituality (prioritizing spiritual or inner values over material ones.)
|
asceticism (deliberately living simply and avoiding luxuries.)
Collocations
crass materialism
|rampant materialism
|a culture of materialism
|consumerist materialism
|the rise of materialism
|reject materialism
|criticize materialism
|accuse someone of materialism
|materialism and greed
|materialism and status
Themes
daily_life
|money
|values
|society
Examples
- Many people worry that social media encourages materialism and constant comparison.
- She tried to raise her children without the materialism she grew up around.
- The novel criticizes the materialism of modern city life.
Learner examples
- I don’t like materialism.
- Materialism can make people unhappy.
Noun
formal
C2
abstract
2
doctrine that only matter is real
the belief that only physical things exist and there is nothing supernatural.
Usage pattern:
materialism; philosophical materialism; materialism about [mind/consciousness]
Common mistake:
This sense is about philosophy, not about loving money and possessions (sense 1).
Synonyms
physicalism (a closely related modern term often used in philosophy of mind.)
|
naturalism (broader view that explanations should be in natural (non-supernatural) terms.)
Antonyms
dualism (the view that mind and matter are fundamentally different kinds of things.)
|
idealism (the view that mind or ideas are primary, not matter.)
|
spiritualism (belief that spiritual reality is primary or independent of matter.)
Collocations
philosophical materialism
|metaphysical materialism
|defend materialism
|reject materialism
|materialism about the mind
|materialism and naturalism
|materialism versus dualism
|a materialist worldview
|commitment to materialism
|arguments for materialism
Themes
philosophy
|beliefs
|science
Examples
- In his lectures, he argued for materialism and against the existence of a non-physical soul.
- Critics say strict materialism cannot fully explain consciousness.
- The debate centered on whether materialism or dualism best fits the evidence.
Learner examples
- Materialism says everything is physical.
- Some philosophers disagree with materialism.
Noun
technical
C2
abstract
3
Marxist emphasis on material conditions
the idea (in Marxism) that history is shaped mainly by economic and physical conditions.
Usage pattern:
Marxist materialism; materialism in [Marxism/social theory]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this political-theory sense with materialism meaning “love of possessions” (sense 1).
Synonyms
materialist analysis (a related term focusing on method rather than the doctrine itself.)
|
economic determinism (overlaps but often implies a stronger, more rigid claim than many Marxists intend.)
Antonyms
historical idealism (explaining historical change mainly through ideas, beliefs, or great individuals.)
Collocations
Marxist materialism
|materialism in Marxism
|materialism in social theory
|materialism and class struggle
|a materialist analysis
|materialist interpretation of history
|economic materialism
|materialist explanation
|materialist framework
|materialist critique
Themes
politics
|history
|economics
|philosophy
Examples
- The course introduced materialism as a key concept in Marxist social theory.
- Her essay uses materialism to explain how economic shifts changed family life.
- He criticized the film’s politics as a simplistic kind of materialism.
Learner examples
- In Marxism, materialism focuses on economics.
- They discussed materialism in history class.
Grammar
Dictionary form
materialism
IPA
GB/mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/
US/mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/
Syllables & stress
ma - ter - i - al - ism (5 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ter)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: materialism
- Plural: materialism
Word family
Core family
Related words
materially
adverb
materialize
verb B2
Negative and opposite forms
immaterial
adjective C1
Advanced or less common
Expressions
a culture of materialism
1/ə kˈʌlt͡ʃɚ əv mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
society centered on possessions
a society where owning things is very important.
Examples
- They argue that advertising helps create a culture of materialism.
- The documentary explores how a culture of materialism affects mental health.
- Some parents try to protect their children from a culture of materialism.
crass materialism
1/kɹˈæs mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
vulgar pursuit of wealth
a rude, shallow love of money and expensive things.
Examples
- He was embarrassed by the crass materialism of the party, with guests competing over designer brands.
- The film satirizes crass materialism in the world of celebrity culture.
- She criticized the ad campaign for promoting crass materialism.
dialectical materialism
1/dˌaɪəlˈɛktɪkəl mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
technical
Marxist philosophy of change
a Marxist theory that society changes through conflict in real-world conditions.
Examples
- The reading linked dialectical materialism to the idea that social systems contain internal tensions.
- He described dialectical materialism as the philosophical basis of Marxism-Leninism.
- Students debated whether dialectical materialism still has explanatory power today.
dialectical materialism
1/dˌaɪəlˈɛktɪkəl mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
technical
Marxist theory of change
A Marxist theory that explains change through conflicts in material and social conditions.
Examples
- The course introduces dialectical materialism as a central idea in Marxist philosophy.
- According to dialectical materialism, economic structures shape social life and change through conflict.
- Her article criticizes dialectical materialism for reducing culture to material conditions.
historical materialism
1/hɪstˈɔɹɪkəl mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
technical
Marxist theory of history
a way of explaining history mainly through economic and material causes.
Examples
- Her argument draws on historical materialism to connect political reforms to economic change.
- Historical materialism treats class relations as central to understanding history.
- The professor contrasted historical materialism with accounts focused on individual leaders.
rampant materialism
1/ɹˈæmpənt mətˈɪɹiəlˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
materialism spreading widely
materialism that is very common and increasing.
Examples
- Some commentators blame rampant materialism for the decline in community life.
- The author links rampant materialism to rising personal debt.
- Teachers said rampant materialism was shaping students’ goals.