Entry Word: material

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 relating to or composed of matter <there's no material evidence, such as a dead body, that a murder has been committed>

Synonyms concrete, physical, substantial

Related Words bodily, carnal, corporal, corporeal, fleshly; appreciable, detectable, discernible, noticeable, observable, palpable, perceptible, sensible, tangible; objective, phenomenal; bulky, heavy, massive, solid, weighty

Near Antonyms bodiless, disembodied, incorporeal; ethereal, insubstantial, unsubstantial; impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible, unnoticeable; airy, diaphanous, tenuous, thin, vaporous; metaphysical, spiritual

Antonyms immaterial, nonmaterial, nonphysical

2 having great meaning or lasting effect <thereʼs no material difference between the two designs for the skyscraper: oneʼs as bad as the other> — see important 1
3 having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven <people who worry more about material concerns than about spiritual ones> — see earthly
4 having to do with the matter at hand <that information, while fascinating, is not material to our discussion> — see pertinent
5 of or relating to the human body <material needs such as food and warmth> — see physical 1