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.

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Etymology

Origin of nonmaterial

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

The FBI says that out of nearly 7,000 facts in the applications, there were rough 200 nonmaterial errors, such as typos and date inaccuracies.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

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