raw material
noun
: crude or processed material that can be converted by manufacture, processing, or combination into a new and useful product
Wheat … is raw material for the flour mill …—
C. A. Koepke
C. A. Koepke
broadly
: something with a potential for improvement, development, or elaboration
… perplexities are often the raw material of discoveries. —Agnes M. Clerke
Agnes M. Clerke Examples of raw material in a Sentence
His experiences during the war were the raw material for the story.
Recent Examples on the Web
For the first time, the cold gas—the raw material from which stars form—of the 650-light-year-wide region known as the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) has been documented in unprecedented detail thanks to a giant telescope.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
Around the world, states and empires – from the Indus Valley Civilization to the Vikings, Mongols, Mississippians and Incas – expanded these networks, serving as hubs that coordinated the exchange of raw materials, specialized knowledge and finished products.
—R. Alexander Bentley, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2026
One of the main drivers of CO2 emissions in chemical auxiliaries is the type of raw materials used.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
The European Union is also advancing plans to build a joint reserve of critical raw materials under its RESourceEU strategy.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for raw material
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
Around the world, states and empires – from the Indus Valley Civilization to the Vikings, Mongols, Mississippians and Incas – expanded these networks, serving as hubs that coordinated the exchange of raw materials, specialized knowledge and finished products.
—R. Alexander Bentley, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2026
One of the main drivers of CO2 emissions in chemical auxiliaries is the type of raw materials used.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
The European Union is also advancing plans to build a joint reserve of critical raw materials under its RESourceEU strategy.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for raw material
Cite this Entry
“Raw material.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raw%20material. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
