antimaterialism
|an-ti-ma-te-ri-al-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.məˈtɪr.i.əl.ɪ.zəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tɪ.məˈtɪə.rɪ.lɪ.z(ə)m/
against materialism
Etymology
'antimaterialism' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'materialism' (from French/Latin roots related to 'material'), where 'material' ultimately comes from Latin 'materia' meaning 'matter'.
'material' comes from Latin 'materia' → Old French/Medieval Latin forms → English 'material'; 'materialism' formed in English to denote the doctrine concerning matter; the negative form 'antimaterialism' was created by adding the prefix 'anti-' to express opposition.
Initially, the elements expressed 'against matter-based doctrine' in a philosophical sense, and over time the term has also come to be used for opposition to materialistic or consumerist values in social/ethical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
opposition to metaphysical materialism — the view that only matter (physical substances) exists; the stance that mental, spiritual, or non-material reality exists beyond physical matter.
Antimaterialism in some philosophical traditions argues that consciousness cannot be reduced to matter alone.
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Noun 2
a social or ethical stance opposed to materialism as a value system — rejection of consumerism, excessive focus on possessions, or pursuit of wealth as primary life goals.
Her antimaterialism led her to live simply and prioritize relationships over possessions.
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Last updated: 2025/09/03 12:56