What does materialist mean?
A materialist is, in its principal philosophical sense, a person who believes that matter constitutes the only reality and that physical processes provide a complete account of the natural world. Such thinkers reject the existence of substances or forces that are wholly immaterial, although they may differ over how matter is organized and how consciousness should be understood. The word can also be used more critically for someone whose values are dominated by money, possessions, comfort, or practical advantage. In this broader usage, a materialist appears primarily concerned with worldly or material success rather than moral, spiritual, or artistic ideals. The distinction between these senses matters: the philosophical term names a serious position in metaphysics, whereas the figurative term usually expresses criticism. Related forms include materialism, the doctrine itself, and materialistic, an adjective describing excessive attachment to material things.
nounA materialist is someone who believes that matter and its physical processes constitute the whole of reality. More generally, the term can describe someone whose interests are chiefly concerned with material possessions or practical concerns.
- A philosopher or thinker who maintains that matter is the only kind of reality and that physical processes fully account for the natural world.
- A person whose outlook or priorities are chiefly concerned with material possessions, practical interests, or worldly success.
"The philosopher was a committed materialist, arguing that consciousness could not exist independently of the brain."
"The ancient philosophers debated whether the universe could be explained without appeal to immaterial realities."
"Critics dismissed him as a narrow materialist who valued wealth more than artistic achievement."
The regular plural is used for both the philosophical and figurative senses.
"Several materialists challenged the claim that the mind was independent of the brain."
A label for an ancient dispute over whether matter is all that exists, “materialist” also became central to Marxist theory through the idea of historical materialism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does materialist come from?
Materialist entered English in the early 17th century, drawing on French matérialiste and Latin forms associated with materialis, “of or consisting of matter.” The word ultimately rests on Latin materia, “matter” or “material,” the source of English material, materiality, and materialize. Its later philosophical history was shaped especially by disputes over mind and matter and by the development of historical materialism in Marxist theory.
Related word forms
How materialist is actually used
In philosophical contexts, the term is neutral and is not inherently derogatory. In its second, figurative sense, it is usually critical and implies an excessive or narrowly practical concern with material things.
Easily confused with materialist
A materialist is a person or philosophical position associated with matter, whereas materialistic describes an excessive concern with wealth, comfort, or other material possessions.