material

Pluralmaterials

Formsmaterials

1. 1
   substancenouncountable or uncountable

   The basic substance, such as metal, wood, or plastic, from which an object is made.

   Engineers tested each material for strength before construction began.

   The factory recycles leftover materials into new products.

   UsageOften plural for kinds: building materials, raw materials; material with no article means the stuff itself.

   Similarsubstance, matter, stuff

2. 2
   content to usenouncountable or uncountable

   Information, ideas, or observations gathered to be shaped into a finished work or used to reach conclusions.

   The journalist collected enough material for a full investigation.

   Researchers drew on years of survey materials to reach their conclusions.

   UsageOften material for something, and in phrases like source material and original material.

   Similarinformation (entry), data, content, evidence

   Note

   The working sense for writers, teachers and scientists: the raw stuff before it becomes a finished product. Rudolf Schuster, writing on North American liverworts in 1992, contrasts fresh material with herbarium material, meaning the specimens themselves. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • Rudolf Schuster published work on North American liverworts in 1992; the cited passage belongs to volume V. iaptglobal.org
   • Schuster contrasts fresh material with herbarium material, referring to the plant specimens examined. en.wiktionary.org
3. 3
   noununcountable

   The elements, parts, or substance that make up something, whether physical or not.

   Grief and joy are the material of great poetry.

   Small daily habits, more than any single choice, are the material from which a person's character is built.

   Similarstuff, substance, elements, components, ingredients

   Note

   Here the word stretches past physical stuff to whatever makes something up, including a person's nature: the material of his character was basically good. It overlaps with the builder's sense in the solid materials of a mixture, but it reaches further. Daniel Rogers in 1642 could imagine the materialls of the world dissolving once its soul was taken away. Source

   Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

   • Daniel Rogers used the spelling materialls while imagining the world's constituents dissolving if its soul were removed. en.wiktionary.org
   • The cited passage occurs in Rogers's Naaman the Syrian, his Disease and Cure, published in 1642. en.wikipedia.org
4. 4
   clothnouncountable or uncountable

   Fabric or cloth, especially cloth used to make garments, curtains, or similar items.

   The tailor draped the material over the mannequin to check the fit.

   These materials fray easily, so handle them with care while sewing.

   UsageOften measured: a piece of material, two meters of material.

   Similarfabric, cloth, textile

5. 5
   suppliesnounusually plural

   Equipment, supplies, or apparatus needed for doing or making something, such as writing materials or an army's stores.

   Students must bring their own writing materials, such as pens and pencils, to the exam.

   The art teacher handed out drawing materials: charcoal, erasers, and thick paper.

   UsageWith a word for the activity: art materials, cleaning materials.

   Similarequipment, supplies, gear, implements

6. 6
   physicaladjective

   Of, relating to, or made up of matter; physical rather than abstract.

   Scientists study the material universe through observation and measurement.

   Philosophers distinguish material things from ideas and thoughts.

   Similarphysical, tangible, concrete, corporeal

   Oppositeimmaterial, abstract, intangible, spiritual

7. 7
   relevantadjective

   Having real importance or serious consequences; significant enough to affect an outcome.

   The witness withheld material facts from the court.

   Investors must be told of any material risk before buying shares.

   UsageCommon in law and business: a material fact, a material change. Here immaterial means irrelevant.

   Similarsignificant, relevant, pertinent, important, consequential

   Oppositeimmaterial

   Note

   Law gave this sense its sharpest edge: a material fact is one that bears on the outcome, and a material difference is one that changes something. Outside the courtroom the sense is old and general. John Evelyn's diary in 1685 praises discourse "always material, not trifling". Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • John Evelyn's diary uses the quoted wording in its entry for 10 March 1685, praising his daughter Mary's conversation. gutenberg.org
8. 8
   worldlyadjective

   Relating to physical needs, comforts, or possessions rather than to intellectual or spiritual matters, sometimes implying too much concern with them.

   She rejected the material lifestyle of her wealthy peers.

   After losing his job, he learned that material wealth could not make him happy.

   UsageFor clear criticism, materialistic is stronger: a materialistic person.

   Similarworldly, physical, earthly

   Oppositespiritual, intellectual

   Note

   Here the physical has become a judgment. It can stay neutral, as in material needs, but often suggests caring too much about possessions. Phrases like the material world and material progress carry mild disapproval. The 1984 song "Material Girl", written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans and performed by Madonna, turned that tone into a self-aware boast. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

   • Material Girl dates from 1984, when it appeared on Like a Virgin; its subsequent single release was in 1985. en.wikipedia.org
   • Peter Brown and Robert Rans wrote Material Girl. en.wikipedia.org
   • Madonna performed Material Girl. en.wikipedia.org
   • The song treats its materialistic stance with self-aware irony. lcweb2.loc.gov

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