adj
immaterial
ih-muh-TEER-rih-uhl
Immaterial (adj) means not important or relevant to the matter at hand. Example: “Whether he liked the plan or not is immaterial — it's already been approved.”
adj
1
Not important or relevant to the matter at hand.
"Whether he liked the plan or not is immaterial — it's already been approved."
"The judge ruled that the witness's opinion was immaterial to the case."
2
Having no physical substance.
"Ghosts are often described as immaterial beings."
How to use immaterial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither not physical, or simply not relevant to a decision or discussion.
Common mistake
In everyday use, "immaterial" almost always means "irrelevant," not "without a body" — that older physical sense is rare outside philosophy.
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Word forms
- Plural
- immaterials
- Comparative
- more immaterial
- Superlative
- most immaterial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Whether he liked the plan or not is _____ — it's already been approved.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin immaterialis, "not made of matter," formed from "im-" ("not") plus "material."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for immaterial
See all rhymes for immaterial →Frequently asked questions
What does “immaterial” mean?
The word “immaterial” means not important or relevant to the matter at hand. In plain terms, either not physical, or simply not relevant to a decision or discussion.
How do you pronounce “immaterial”?
“Immaterial” is pronounced ih-muh-TEER-rih-uhl (/ˌɪ.məˈtɪ.ɹi.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “immaterial” in a sentence?
Here is “immaterial” used in a sentence: “Whether he liked the plan or not is immaterial — it's already been approved.”
What part of speech is “immaterial”?
“Immaterial” is an adjective.
Where does the word “immaterial” come from?
The word “immaterial” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin immaterialis, "not made of matter," formed from "im-" ("not") plus "material.".
How many meanings does “immaterial” have?
“Immaterial” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not important or relevant to the matter at hand.
