Leo is a materialist, living for life's little luxuries.
2. uncountable noun
Materialism is the belief that only physical matter exists, and that there is no spiritual world.
materialism in British English
(məˈtɪərɪəˌlɪzəm)
noun
1.
interest in and desire for money, possessions, etc, rather than spiritual or ethical values
2. philosophy
the monist doctrine that matter is the only reality and that the mind, the emotions, etc, are merely functions of it
Compare idealism (sense 3), dualism (sense 2), See also identity theory
3. ethics
the rejection of any religious or supernatural account of things
Derived forms
materialist (maˈterialist)
noun, adjective
materialistic (maˌterialˈistic)
adjective
materialistically (maˌterialˈistically)
adverb
materialism in American English
(məˈtɪriəlˌɪzəm)
noun
1.
a.
the philosophic doctrine that matter is the only reality and that everything in theworld, including thought, will, and feeling, can be explained in terms of matter alone
see also idealism
b.
the doctrine that comfort, pleasure, and wealth are the only or highest goals or values
2.
the tendency to be more concerned with material than with spiritual or intellectual goals or values
Word origin
Fr matérialisme
Examples of 'materialism' in a sentence
materialism
But my life, any life, real life wasn't about pursuing the prizes of materialism and practising the gospel of self-gratification.
Howatch, Susan ULTIMATE PRIZES (2001)
The wave of materialism which was sweeping the West had hit Johannesburg hard.
Martin, Joy THE IMAGE OF LAURA (2001)
We might not kill for things, but we make other concessions to materialism.
Laura Lippman IN A STRANGE CITY (2001)
Word lists with
materialism
Philosophical schools and doctrines
In other languages
materialism
British English: materialism NOUN
Materialism is the attitude of someone who attaches a lot of importance to money and wants to possess a lot of material things.
...the rising consumer materialism in society at large.