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Definitions

material

[muh-teer-ee-uhl] / məˈtɪər i əl /
ADJECTIVE
bodily, tangible
Synonyms
STRONGEST
actual appreciable earthly perceptible physical substantial
STRONG
animal concrete corporeal objective real true
WEAK
carnal fleshly incarnate nonspiritual palpable phenomenal sensible sensual worldly
Antonyms
STRONGEST
immaterial imperceptible mental spiritual
STRONG
dishonest false intangible invalid
WEAK
ethereal incorporeal irrelevant unimportant unsubstantial
ADJECTIVE
important, relevant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
considerable meaningful serious significant substantial
STRONG
cardinal essential fundamental grave key primary
WEAK
ad rem applicable applicative apposite apropos big consequential germane indispensable intrinsic momentous pertinent pointful vital weighty
Antonyms
STRONGEST
insignificant little meaningless minor small trivial unimportant
STRONG
auxiliary inessential nonessential secondary
WEAK
ethereal immaterial incorporeal intangible irrelevant mental unsubstantial
NOUN
matter, fabric
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cloth component element equipment goods ingredient machinery object stuff substance supply textile
STRONG
being body bolt constituent crop entity gear habiliments individual materiel outfit paraphernalia staple stock tackle thing
Antonyms
STRONGEST
whole
STRONG
abstract concept inanimate
NOUN
written matter
Synonyms
STRONGEST
data evidence information text work
STRONG
facts notes reading

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The backstage world of a small regional theater—crowded with ego, activity and illusion—provides rich material for the comic novelist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The issue is pretending that the waste is material to the overall budget, when it isn’t and never has been.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

"Oil pricing and jet fuel pricing has had a material effect on cost structures, so we took the proactive step of reducing approximately 12% of our flight capacity," Bezuidenhout told BBC Radio 4 on Friday.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

At the time, he and his colleagues found wasp cocoons mixed in with fossil material.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

I wasn’t thinking about James as husband material.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.