materialism

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a desire for wealth and material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters
  2. noun (philosophy) the philosophical theory that matter is the only reality

Etymology

Borrowed from French matérialisme. By surface analysis, material + -ism.

In classic literature

Synonyms

philistinism

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