nonmaterial
adjective
non·ma·te·ri·al
ˌnän-mə-ˈtir-ē-əl
: not material: such as
a
: not of a physical nature : mental, conceptual, or spiritual rather than physical
nonmaterial values
[William F.] Ogburn distinguished between material culture (factories, machines, munitions, clothing, and so on) and nonmaterial culture (values, attitudes, customs, institutions, etc.), and emphasized the different ways in which they change.—Gerald R. Leslie and Sheila K. Korman
An ordinary will or last testament mainly concerns the disposition of your material possessions at death. An ethical will has to do with nonmaterial gifts: the values and life lessons that you wish to leave to others.—Time
b
law
: not having real importance or great consequences
a nonmaterial breach of contract
Cite this Entry
“Nonmaterial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonmaterial. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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