# materialist

/məˈtɪɹiəɫɪst/ (US) · /mətˈiəɹɪəlˌɪst/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/materialist
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a person who cares a lot about money and owning things, more than about ideas, feelings, or relationships.

For teachers: 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.

## Antonyms

idealist, minimalist

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.