materialistic

adjective

ma·​te·​ri·​al·​is·​tic mə-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈli-stik 

1

: overly concerned or preoccupied with material possessions rather than with intellectual or spiritual things

We had always watched The Beverly Hillbillies, and the Andy Griffith Show, where the country folks had to set things straight for the more materialistic city folk.

—Artie Ann Bates

Paying high prices for furniture and art is surely a reflection of an increasingly materialistic age.

—Carol Vogel

2

: of, relating to, or deriving from the theory or doctrine of materialism (see materialism sense 1)

With the so-called Enlightenment, however, a linear, reductionistic, and materialistic view of the universe arose.

—David Fideler

materialistically

mə-ˌtir-ē-ə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

The sin of disobedience to the heavenly vision cannot be atoned for with dollars, and the spiritual loss is highly visible in a self-centered, materialistically minded people.

—Robertson McQuilkin

Examples of materialistic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These frugal shoppers’ desire for simplicity is growing out of larger movements that seek to reduce consumption to protect the environment and nurture a less materialistic culture. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Nov. 2024

While the nourishing Moon in your materialistic 2nd house reins in frenetic Mercury in your 12th House of Self-Undoing, organizing favorite possessions of yours might calm you down. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024

On a date, people are dressed up and act a certain way; maybe being a bit materialistic. —Arielle Domb, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2024

Another is with their adoptive family, which is made up of an uptight aunt, a materialistic uncle, and seven snide cousins. —Mia Taylor, Parents, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1832, in the meaning defined at sense 2