postmaterialism

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noun

The theory that a positive correlation exists between one's level of affluence during childhood and such values, and that these persist throughout adulthood irrespective of any changes to one's personal economic circumstances.

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Meanings

nounpostmaterialism (uncountable)
  1. Someone's placing higher importance on nonmaterialist values such as autonomy and self-expression, as opposed to materialist values such as economic and physical wellbeing.
    1. uncountablehuman sciencesThe theory that a positive correlation exists between one's level of affluence during childhood and such values, and that these persist throughout adulthood irrespective of any changes to one's personal economic circumstances.
    2. uncountablepolitical scienceThe theory that political preferences in contemporary affluent (mostly Western) societies are increasingly based on such values, especially with regard to the leftist spectrum, in such a way that parties move away from traditional Marxist materialism.

Origin

From post- + materialism.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish postmaterialismi
  • postmaterialismiTranslations
German Postmaterialismus
  • PostmaterialismusTranslations
Polish postmaterializm
  • postmaterializmTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

postmaterialism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/postmaterialism

MLA

“postmaterialism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/postmaterialism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “postmaterialism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/postmaterialism.

Source: postmaterialism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.