historical materialism
noun
: the Marxist theory of history and society that holds that ideas and social institutions develop only as the superstructure of a material economic base compare dialectical materialism
Examples of historical materialism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Marxist concepts like class conflict and historical materialism were comparatively unfashionable, even (many thought) dangerous.
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Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 24 Mar. 2023
So, for example, his view of historical materialism means that there’s an inevitable rise of the East and the decline of the West.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 22 July 2021
Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 24 Mar. 2023
So, for example, his view of historical materialism means that there’s an inevitable rise of the East and the decline of the West.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 22 July 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'historical materialism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1925, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of historical materialism was
in 1925
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Cite this Entry
“Historical materialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/historical%20materialism. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about historical materialism
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