Spanish Conversation · Level 50
75 words
Spanish word
materialismo
Pronunciation
IPA/mateɾjaˈlismo/
Meaning
- masculine nounmaterialism
Example
El materialismo de la gente se nota en sus compras.
People's materialism shows in their purchases.
More examples
En debates filosóficos, el materialismo se contrapone al idealismo.
In philosophical debates, materialism is contrasted with idealism.
Core concept
A shopping cart overflowing with packages and gadgets.
Common phrases
exceso de materialismo
excessive materialism
materialismo de la sociedad
societal materialism
Similar words
consumismo: Centers daily routines and social identity around buying and consuming goods.
posesión: Possesses physical items or assets as privately held property.
avaricia: Harbors an intense, selfish craving for wealth and material things.
Definition in Spanish
Tendencia social o actitud personal que valora especialmente los bienes materiales y el consumo; en filosofía, doctrina que considera la materia como fundamento de la realidad.
Word origin
From Latin materia 'matter' plus the suffix -ismo, originally a philosophical term about matter as the basis of reality and later extended to a social tendency to value material goods.
Usage tips
- In everyday use materialismo often refers to consumerism and conspicuous consumption rather than strict metaphysics.
Other meanings
- philosophical materialismnoun
Opposites
- idealismoidealismnoun
Related words
- materializarmaterializeverb
- materialistamaterialisticadjective