Material

/məˈtɪə.ri.əl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The substance or substances from which a thing is made.

Wood is a common material used in furniture construction.

Information or ideas that help in the creation of something.

The teacher provided us with plenty of material for our research project.

Physical objects that can be seen and touched.

We need to gather all the materials needed for the science experiment.

adjective

Relating to or consisting of matter; physical rather than spiritual.

He had a materialistic view of the world, focusing solely on tangible wealth.

Significant or important.

We found no material evidence to support the allegations.

Middle French 'matériel', from Latin 'materialis', from 'materia' meaning 'matter, substance'

material evidence

Evidence that is tangible and can be used in a court of law.

material girl

A person, typically a woman, who is focused on wealth and material possessions.

material wealth

Wealth that is in the form of physical assets, not cash or non-tangible resources.

materialism

A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.

materialistic

Concerned with material values or symbols.

High quality or top-tier.

That new car is pure material.

Something that fits the vibe or theme.

The dress she's wearing is totally material for the party.