anti-materialist
|an-ti-ma-te-ri-al-ist|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.məˈtɪr.i.əlɪst/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.məˈtɪə.ri.əlɪst/
against materialism
Etymology
'anti-materialist' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek anti- meaning 'against') and 'materialist' (from 'materialism' + -ist). 'Materialism' ultimately comes from Latin 'materia' meaning 'matter' or 'substance'.
'Material' derives from Latin 'materia' and passed into Old French and Middle English as 'material'. 'Materialist' was formed in modern European languages (19th century) from 'materialism' + '-ist', and the compound 'anti-materialist' arose by adding the productive English prefix 'anti-' to express opposition.
Initially 'materialist' described someone holding the doctrine that matter is primary; adding 'anti-' originally signified opposition to that philosophical doctrine. Over time, 'anti-materialist' also broadened to describe opposition to materialistic lifestyles and consumer culture, not only the metaphysical doctrine.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is opposed to materialism — either a philosophical opponent of materialist metaphysics or someone who rejects materialistic/consumer values.
As an anti-materialist, he criticized the culture of excessive consumption.
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Adjective 1
opposed to materialism — either the philosophical doctrine that matter is the fundamental reality or the social attitude of valuing material possessions and consumerism.
She expressed strongly anti-materialist views and chose to live simply.
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Last updated: 2025/11/04 08:16