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Synonyms

nonmaterial

American  
[non-muh-teer-ee-uhl] / ˌnɒn məˈtɪər i əl /

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.


Etymology

Origin of nonmaterial

First recorded in 1935–40; non- + material

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

This is expected to have little or no impact on sales of oncology drugs Enhertu and Datroway, resulting in a nonmaterial effect for AstraZeneca, they add.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 28, 2026

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

From Washington Post Mar. 23, 2023

Therefore, there must be a nonmaterial entity that causes this material world to come into existence.

From Textbooks Jun. 15, 2022

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 Aug. 2, 2021

The “old mysterians” were dualists who believed in nonmaterial properties, such as the soul, that cannot be explained by natural processes.

From Scientific American Jul. 1, 2018

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