nonmaterial

[ non-muh-teer-ee-uhl ]

adjective

1. not material or composed of matter.
2. not involving, seeking, or primarily concerned with riches or material things; involving or concerned with the spiritual, intellectual, or cultural aspects of life.
3. of or relating to the spirit or soul; spiritual:

   to minister to a person's nonmaterial needs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonmaterial¹

First recorded in 1935–40; non- + material

Example Sentences

But there’s more: Many young people place a higher value on nonmaterial well-being than previous generations did.

From Washington Post

The first part of the book is committed to a ground-clearing exercise, describing the various concepts of the nonmaterial soul that feature in many different religious belief systems.

From Washington Post

But “Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience” emphasizes nonmaterial aspects of the boy king’s significance.

From Washington Post

He utilizes concrete as a nonmaterial in my mind — it’s really about space and how you circulate within it, and the light and the freedom of expression that nevertheless serve a purpose.

From New York Times

So, for example, property may be capital, in the Marxist sense, but property values are dependent on things that are nonmaterial — that are ideological, or superstructural — like race.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abstract
• abstruse
• esoteric
• mystical
• philosophical
• spiritual
• supernatural
• theoretical