worldly-minded person; materialist; philistine; snob
A derogatory term for someone obsessed with money, status, or worldly success, lacking refinement or culture. Often used in literary or critical contexts.
彼は金儲けのことしか考えない俗物だ。
He is a materialist who thinks only about making money.
芸術に興味がないなんて、俗物だね。
Not being interested in art—what a philistine.
Compound of 俗 (ぞく, 'worldly, vulgar') and 物 (ぶつ, 'person, thing'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination straightforwardly yields 'vulgar person'.