Material — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /mə-ˈtir-ē-əl/ ma·te·ri·al

Meaning & Definition of Material

Material (adjective)

  1. relating to, derived from, or consisting of matter; especially, physical
  2. bodily
  3. of or relating to matter rather than form

Material (noun)

  1. the elements, constituents, or substances of which something is composed or can be made
  2. matter that has qualities which give it individuality and by which it may be categorized
  3. something (such as data) that may be worked into a more finished form

Material (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the basic elements from which something can be developed

    "she's clearly movie star material"

    similar: making, raw material, stuff, substance, timber
    related: possibility, potential, potentiality, matter, metal

  2. items needed for the performance of a task or activity

    "I have all the materials to build the mobile"

    similar: accoutrements, apparatus, equipment, gear, hardware, kit (chiefly British), matériel, outfit, paraphernalia, stuff, tackle
    related: accessories, appurtenances, attachments, fittings, baggage, belongings, impedimenta, appliances, facilities, instruments, machinery, tools, apparel, attire, habiliments, raiment, trappings, armamentarium, armory, arsenal, battery, assets, resources

Material (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. relating to or composed of matter

    "there's no material evidence, such as a dead body, that a murder has been committed"

    similar: concrete, physical, substantial
    related: bodily, carnal, corporal, corporeal, embodied, fleshly, apparent, appreciable, detectable, discernible, noticeable, observable, palpable, perceptible, seeable, sensible, tangible, touchable, visible, objective, phenomenal, bulky, heavy, hefty, massive, ponderous, solid, weighty
    opposite: immaterial, nonmaterial, nonphysical
    near: bodiless, discarnate, disembodied, formless, incorporeal, unbodied, ethereal, insubstantial, unsubstantial, impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible, unnoticeable, airy, diaphanous, gossamery, tenuous, thin, vaporous, wispish, metaphysical, spiritual

  2. having great meaning or lasting effect

    "there's no material difference between the two designs for the skyscraper: one's as bad as the other"

    similar: big, consequential, earth-shattering, earthshaking, eventful, historic, important, major, meaningful, momentous, monumental, much, significant, substantial, tectonic, weighty
    related: decisive, fatal, fateful, strategic, earnest, grave, heavy, serious, sincere, distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, valuable, worthwhile, worthy, distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, preeminent, prestigious, famous, notorious, renowned, all-important, central, critical, crucial, essential, key, pivotal, seminal, vital
    opposite: inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, small, trifling, trivial, unimportant
    near: paltry, petty, worthless, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown

  3. having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven

    "people who worry more about material concerns than about spiritual ones"

    similar: carnal, earthborn, earthbound, earthly, fleshly, mundane, sublunary, temporal, terrene, terrestrial, worldly
    related: animal, bodily, corporal, corporeal, physical, daily, diurnal, unspiritual, anthropic, anthropocentric
    opposite: heavenly, nontemporal, unearthly, unworldly
    near: celestial, Elysian, empyreal, empyrean, supernal, metaphysical, devotional, divine, religious, sacred, spiritual, utopian, ethereal, supernatural, transcendent, transcendental, extraterrestrial, otherworldly, unearthly

  4. having to do with the matter at hand

    "that information, while fascinating, is not material to our discussion"

    similar: applicable, apposite, apropos, germane, pertinent, pointed, relative, relevant, to the point
    related: appropriate, apt, fit, fitting, suitable, important, meaningful, significant, sensible, useful, admissible, allowable
    opposite: extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, inapplicable, inapposite, irrelative, irrelevant, pointless
    near: frivolous, inconsequential, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant, meaningless, purposeless, senseless, useless, inappropriate, inapt, unsuitable, inadmissible

  5. of or relating to the human body

    "material needs such as food and warmth"

    similar: animal, bodily, carnal, corporal, corporeal, fleshly, physical, somatic
    related: anatomic, physiological, sensual, sensuous, hand-to-hand
    opposite: nonmaterial, nonphysical
    near: cerebral, inner, intellectual, mental, psychological, bodiless, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, spiritual, ethereal, metaphysical, psychic

Related Entry: Raw material (noun)

Raw material is a different word from Material. The synonyms below are for raw material, not for material.

  1. the basic elements from which something can be developed

    "Canada now converts most of its raw materials into manufactured goods such as automobiles and auto parts"

    similar: making, material, stuff, substance, timber
    related: possibility, potential, potentiality, matter, metal

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Material

The most common words with a similar meaning to Material:

Chiefly British: kit
making, raw material, stuff, substance, timber, accoutrements, apparatus, equipment, gear, hardware, matériel, outfit, paraphernalia, tackle, concrete, physical, substantial, big, consequential, earth-shattering, earthshaking, eventful, historic, important, major, meaningful, momentous, monumental, much, significant, tectonic, weighty, carnal, earthborn, earthbound, earthly, fleshly, mundane, sublunary, temporal

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Material

Words with the opposite meaning of Material:

immaterial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, small, trifling, trivial, unimportant, heavenly, nontemporal, unearthly, unworldly, extraneous, impertinent, inapplicable, inapposite, irrelative, irrelevant, pointless

Related Words for Material

possibility, potential, potentiality, matter, metal, accessories, appurtenances, attachments, fittings, baggage, belongings, impedimenta, appliances, facilities, instruments, machinery, tools, apparel, attire, habiliments, raiment, trappings, armamentarium, armory, arsenal, battery, assets, resources, embodied, apparent

Near Antonyms of Material

bodiless, discarnate, disembodied, formless, incorporeal, unbodied, ethereal, insubstantial, unsubstantial, impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible, unnoticeable, airy, diaphanous, gossamery, tenuous, thin, vaporous, wispish, metaphysical, spiritual, paltry, petty, worthless, anonymous, nameless, obscure

Word Forms of Material

Derived words: materially (adverb), materialness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Material

Middle English materiel, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin materialis, from Latin materia matter matter

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Material

Words & Phrases Containing Material

raw material

Frequently Asked Questions about Material

What does "Material" mean?

"Material" means relating to, derived from, or consisting of matter; especially, physical. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: relating to, derived from, or consisting of matter; especially, physical. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Material"?

Other words for "Material" include making, raw material, stuff, substance, timber, accoutrements, apparatus and equipment. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Material" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Material"?

There are 164 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Material". Common alternatives include making, raw material, stuff, substance, timber, accoutrements, apparatus, equipment, gear and hardware.

What is the opposite of "Material"?

Antonyms of "Material" include immaterial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little and minor. Near antonyms include bodiless, discarnate, disembodied and formless.

How do you use "Material" in a sentence?

Examples of "Material" in a sentence: "she's clearly movie star material"; "I have all the materials to build the mobile"; "there's no material evidence, such as a dead body, that a murder has been committed".

Is "Material" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Material" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Material" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Material" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Material"?

"Material" is pronounced /mə-ˈtir-ē-əl/ and divided into syllables as ma·te·ri·al.