materialism
n. uncountablen. the belief that having money and buying things is the most important part of life. It often describes a focus on physical objects rather than spiritual or emotional values.
n. a preoccupation with or emphasis on material possessions and physical comfort over intellectual or spiritual values. In a philosophical context, it refers to the theory that nothing exists except matter and its movements.
His materialism makes him care more about cars than friends.
Critics of modern materialism argue that the constant pursuit of the latest gadgets leads to a decrease in overall life satisfaction.
The shift from a subsistence economy to a consumer-driven society has often been accompanied by a rise in materialism, where social status is measured primarily by one's accumulated wealth.
Borrowed from French matérialisme. By surface analysis, material + -ism.
Typically used in a critical or evaluative sense when describing social behavior.