substance

[ suhb-stuhns ]

noun

1. that of which a thing consists; physical matter or material:

   form and substance.

2. a species of matter of definite chemical composition:

   a chalky substance.

3. controlled substance.
4. the subject matter of thought, discourse, study, etc.

   Synonyms: subject, theme

5. the actual matter of a thing, as opposed to the appearance or shadow; reality.

   Synonyms: essence

6. substantial or solid character or quality:

   claims lacking in substance.

7. consistency; body:

   soup without much substance.

8. the meaning or gist, as of speech or writing.

   Synonyms: pith, import, significance

9. something that has separate or independent existence.
10. Philosophy.
    1. something that exists by itself and in which accidents or attributes inhere; that which receives modifications and is not itself a mode; something that is causally active; something that is more than an event.
    2. the essential part of a thing; essence.
    3. a thing considered as a continuing whole.
11. possessions, means, or wealth:

    to squander one's substance.

12. Linguistics. the articulatory or acoustic reality or the perceptual manifestation of a word or other construction ( form ).
13. a standard of weights for paper.

substance

/ ˈsʌbstəns /

noun

1. the tangible matter of which a thing consists
2. a specific type of matter, esp a homogeneous material with a definite composition
3. the essence, meaning, etc, of a written or spoken thought
4. solid or meaningful quality
5. material density

   a vacuum has no substance

6. material possessions or wealth

   a man of substance

7. philosophy
   1. the supposed immaterial substratum that can receive modifications and in which attributes and accidents inhere
   2. a thing considered as a continuing whole that survives the changeability of its properties
8. Christian Science that which is eternal
9. a euphemistic term for any illegal drug
10. in substance
    with regard to the salient points

Derived Forms

• ˈsubstanceless, adjective

Other Words From

• substance·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of substance¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin substantia “substance, essence” (literally, “that which stands under, i.e., underlies”), equivalent to sub- “under, beneath” + -stant- (stem of stāns, present participle of stāre “to stand”) + -ia noun suffix; sub-, stand, -ia; -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of substance¹

C13: via Old French from Latin substantia, from substāre, from sub- + stāre to stand

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in substance,
   1. concerning the essentials; substantially.
   2. actually; really:

      That is in substance how it appeared to me.

More idioms and phrases containing substance

see in substance ; sum and substance .

Synonym Study

See matter.

Example Sentences

The 69-year-old Oscar winner and "Gladiator II" star reflected on his relationship with alcohol and substances in an interview with Esquire.

From Salon

"There are EU regulations around the use of lead, but piezoelectrics are one of the last remaining mainstream technologies allowed to contain this substance because there is no high-performance alternative," Associate Professor Guerin explained.

From Science Daily

He and Brynn, who battled substance abuse, had a tumultuous, combative relationship that was growing only more strained.

From New York Times

"Normally, microglia are looking for things like viruses or injury and secreting substances that block off the damage," she said.

From Science Daily

In more extreme cases, Professor Gillan's research has shown that it can even contribute to compulsive behaviours seen in conditions such as obsessive compulsivedisorder, substance use disorders, and eating disorders.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• amount
• effect
• meat
• significance
• strength
• stuff
• subject