Word
materialist
Phoneticsma·te·ri·al·ist, stress on the second syllable
US/məˈtɪɹiəɫɪst/
UK/mətˈiəɹɪəlˌɪst/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who cares a lot about money and owning things, more than about ideas, feelings, or relationships.
n. a person committed to materialism, whether as the philosophical view that only physical matter exists or as a strong focus on money and possessions.
Examples
“He is a materialist who loves expensive cars and watches.”
“She describes herself as a materialist and chooses a high salary over meaningful work.”
“The novel contrasts the materialist father, obsessed with property and status, with his daughter who seeks meaning in art and nature.”
Examples
simple
“He is a materialist who loves expensive cars and watches.”
contextual
“She describes herself as a materialist and chooses a high salary over meaningful work.”
complex
“The novel contrasts the materialist father, obsessed with property and status, with his daughter who seeks meaning in art and nature.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “materialist” in context.
Verb
01. become materialist
“After working in finance, he slowly became a materialist obsessed with bonuses.”
verb + noun
02. dismiss as materialist
“They dismissed him as a materialist who only cared about profit.”
verb + prep + noun
03. label materialist
“It is unfair to label her a materialist just because she likes nice clothes.”
verb + noun
04. marry materialist
“She realised she had married a materialist who valued money over family.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. committed materialist
“He makes no secret of being a committed materialist who loves luxury brands.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. breed of materialist
“Reality TV has created a new breed of materialist obsessed with fame.”
noun + prep + noun
07. fellow materialist
“He swapped tips with a fellow materialist at the art auction.”
noun + noun
08. a culture that breeds materialists
“Critics say social media creates a culture that breeds materialists.”
09. a self-confessed materialist
“He is a self-confessed materialist who loves expensive gadgets and cars.”
10. an unashamed materialist at heart
“Despite her charity work, she remains an unashamed materialist at heart.”
11. appeal to young materialists
“The advert is clearly designed to appeal to young materialists.”
12. dismiss someone as a materialist
“Do not dismiss someone as a materialist just for enjoying nice things.”
Real-World Examples
“We may call ourselves materialists, but at heart we often still think like dualists (mental phenomena are non-physical, separate from the brain).” Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/materialist