materialistic

Materialistic is an adjective with two related senses. In everyday language, it describes an orientation that prioritizes material possessions, wealth, and outward signs of success, sometimes to the exclusion of other values. It can be pejorative, implying superficiality or greed, but can also be used descriptively for pragmatic or wealth-oriented attitudes. In philosophy, materialistic (often materialist or materialism) refers to theories that regard matter as the fundamental substance in nature and hold that all phenomena, including consciousness, arise from physical processes. This contrasts with idealism or spiritualism, which posit non-material realities or non-physical causes.

Etymology: from Latin materia for “matter,” via French materialisme and English materialistic; the suffix -istic forms the adjective.

In philosophy, materialism encompasses a range of positions. Classical materialism treats mind as a byproduct or epiphenomenon of matter, while modern physicalism or reductive materialism identifies mental states with brain states. Historical materialism, associated with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, emphasizes material conditions and economic relations as drivers of social change, though not all who use the term align with Marxist theory.

Usage and connotation can vary by context. The term may signal a lifestyle critique of consumer culture, a neutral description of a theoretical stance, or a straightforward appraisal of someone’s values.