material

[ muh-teer-ee-uhl ]

noun

1. the substance or substances of which a thing is made or composed:

   Stone is a durable material.

2. anything that serves as crude or raw matter to be used or developed:

   Wood pulp is the raw material from which paper is made.

3. any constituent element.
4. a textile fabric:

   material for a dress.

5. a group of ideas, facts, data, etc., that may provide the basis for or be incorporated into some integrated work:

   to gather material for a history of North Carolina;

   to write material for a comedy show.

6. materials, the articles or apparatus needed to make or do something:

   writing materials.

7. a person considered as having qualities suited to a particular sphere of activity:

   The boy's teachers did not think he was college material.

adjective

1. formed or consisting of matter; physical; corporeal:

   the material world.

   Antonyms: incorporeal

2. relating to, concerned with, or involving matter:

   material forces.

3. pertaining to the physical rather than the spiritual or intellectual aspect of things:

   material comforts.

4. pertaining to or characterized by an undue interest in corporeal things; unspiritual.
5. characterized by an overriding interest in wealth and possessions and the consumption of luxury goods and services:

   You could probably call him a material guy, as he’s had expensive tastes and a lust for fashion from the time he was a kid.

6. of substantial import; of much consequence; important:

   Your support will make a material difference in the success of our program.

   Synonyms: vital, essential

   Antonyms: unimportant

7. pertinent or essential (usually followed by to ):

   a question not material to the subject at hand.

8. Law. likely to influence the determination of a case:

   material evidence.

9. Philosophy. of or relating to matter as distinguished from form.

material

/ məˈtɪərɪəl /

noun

1. the substance of which a thing is made or composed; component or constituent matter

   raw material

2. facts, notes, etc, that a finished work may be based on or derived from

   enough material for a book

3. cloth or fabric
4. a person who has qualities suitable for a given occupation, training, etc

   that boy is not university material

adjective

1. of, relating to, or composed of physical substance; corporeal
2. philosophy composed of or relating to physical as opposed to mental or spiritual substance

   the material world

3. of, relating to, or affecting economic or physical wellbeing

   material ease

4. of or concerned with physical rather than spiritual interests
5. of great import or consequence

   of material benefit to the workers

6. often foll by to relevant
7. philosophy of or relating to matter as opposed to form
8. law relevant to the issue before court: applied esp to facts or testimony of much significance

   a material witness

Derived Forms

• maˈterialness, noun

Other Words From

• ma·te·ri·al·ness noun
• pre·ma·te·ri·al adjective
• qua·si-ma·te·ri·al adjective
• qua·si-ma·te·ri·al·ly adverb
• su·per·ma·te·ri·al noun
• trans·ma·te·ri·al adjective
• un·ma·te·ri·al adjective
• un·ma·te·ri·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of material¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Late Latin māteriālis “of, belonging to matter,” equivalent to māteri(a) “woody part of a tree, substance” ( matter ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of material¹

C14: via French from Late Latin māteriālis, from Latin māteria matter

Synonym Study

See matter.

Example Sentences

“We have seen significant inflation in recent years, as well as extensive material cost increases following the Covid pandemic. This ultimately translates into higher service charges,” the RFA said in a statement.

From BBC

"We're working with a new contractor for some concreting in the yard and building works," Alan said, adding that he'd received an email asking him to pay so the contractor could buy materials.

From BBC

In an eight-to-seven vote on Tuesday, the board approved the state-written “Bluebonnet” curriculum, which infuses Bible stories into language arts materials for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

From Salon

China is set to fire up a powerful new x-ray light source that will reveal the atomic-scale structure of proteins and materials.

From Science Magazine

Although researchers have found evidence Neanderthals built fires for cooking and manipulating materials, exactly how they procured and processed tar has been a mystery.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• actual
• appreciable
• earthly
• perceptible
• physical
• substantial