nonmaterial
Lacking physical form
Nonmaterial means not consisting of physical matter—existing without tangible substance.
The term appears in philosophical and religious contexts distinguishing the spiritual from the physical: the nonmaterial soul, nonmaterial reality.
In social sciences, nonmaterial culture refers to values, beliefs, and customs rather than physical artifacts: Language is part of nonmaterial culture.
Abstract mental construct
- ideaMental formation
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- notionImprecise mental impression
thought · abstraction · hypothesis · premise · conjecture · paradigm · ideology · doctrine
Not made of matter
- insubstantialLacking physical or material substance
- impalpableUnable to be touched
- invisibleCannot be seen
- unseenNot perceived visually
ungraspable · formless · bodiless · weightless · ethereal · elusive · amorphous · nebulous
Innermost animating essence
- divinitySacred nature or nougat-like sweet
- faithTrust without proof
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
salvation · afterlife · reincarnation · meditation · prayer · worship · sacred · transcendence
Visible supernatural manifestation
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- ghostApparition of the dead
- ectoplasmSupposed supernatural exudate
poltergeist · wraith · spirit · haunt · netherworld · otherworldly · phantasmal · spectral
Philosophy of existence's nature
- idealismBelief in noble principles
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
- dualismPhilosophy of opposed pairs
- monismSingle-substance metaphysics
phenomenology · existentialism · epistemology · empiricism · rationalism · dialectics · solipsism · pragmatism
concept
Abstract mental construct
notion · thought · abstraction · hypothesis · premise · conjecture · paradigm · ideology · doctrine · philosophy
incorporeal
Not made of matter
- insubstantialLacking physical or material substance
- impalpableUnable to be touched
- invisibleCannot be seen
unseen · ungraspable · formless · bodiless · weightless · ethereal · elusive · amorphous · nebulous · indiscernible
soul
Innermost animating essence
- divinitySacred nature or nougat-like sweet
- faithTrust without proof
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
karma · salvation · afterlife · reincarnation · meditation · prayer · worship · sacred · transcendence · sanctity
apparition
Visible supernatural manifestation
ectoplasm · poltergeist · wraith · spirit · haunt · netherworld · otherworldly · phantasmal · spectral · supernatural
metaphysics
Philosophy of existence's nature
- idealismBelief in noble principles
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
- dualismPhilosophy of opposed pairs
monism · phenomenology · existentialism · epistemology · empiricism · rationalism · dialectics · solipsism · pragmatism · nihilism
nonmaterialmaterial
Physical matter; pertinent
physical · tangible · corporeal · substantial · bodily
nonmaterialtangible
Perceptible by touch
palpable · detectable · discernible · observable · visible
material, immaterial, materialism, materialist, materiality, immateriality