non-materialadj.
/ˌnɒnməˈtɪərɪəl/, U.S. /ˌnɑnməˈtɪriəl/ That is not material; that is not concerned with physical goods or matter; that has no physical substance. Cf. immaterial adj. and n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > immateriality > [adjective]
bodilessa1398
matterlessa1398
unmateriala1398
unbodily1398
immaterialc1450
metaphysic1528
incorporeal1532
incorporate1540
incorporal1551
uncorporal1567
metaphysical1577
unphysical1593
limbless1594
corpseless1596
unbodied1609
immateriate1626
incorporeous1638
uncarnate1646
unmattered1647
incorporificated1651
unembodied1662
unessential1667
inessential1677
unelementarya1706
unelementateda1706
unincarnate1709
immechanical1715
asomatous1731
unincorporate1821
unfleshly1834
ethereal1836
non-material1847
non-physical1856
unincarnated1859
discorporate1888
transubstantial1892
1847 Littell's Living Age 15 May 309/1 The strongest moral or non-material inducements to the emigration of more people.
1858 Biblical Repertory Apr. 263 [Metaphysics] are regarded as the science of immaterial, or the genus under which all the non-material sciences range as species.
1894 Econ. Jrnl. 3 382 The true definition of wealth..includes non-material as well as immaterial wealth.
1930 Encycl. Social Sci. I. xi. 338/2 Certainly the primary interest is now in cultural anthropology, and increasingly in non-material culture.
1977 Dædalus Summer 84 There are aspects of the past, both nonmaterial and material, that archaeology will never recover.
2001 Guardian 22 June ii. 5/4 Money has become the tool with which to buy non-material things—space, time, health, fitness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1847