immaterial

adjective

im·​ma·​te·​ri·​al ˌi-mə-ˈtir-ē-əl 

1

: of no substantial consequence : unimportant

It's immaterial if you stay or go.

2

: not consisting of matter : incorporeal

ghosts and other immaterial entities

Synonyms of immaterial

• spiritual
• incorporeal
• metaphysical
• nonmaterial
• invisible
• supernatural
• nonphysical
• insubstantial

Examples of immaterial in a Sentence

Whether or not he intended to cause problems is immaterial.

The fact that she is a woman is immaterial and irrelevant.

Recent Examples on the Web

If strict fidelity gets in the way, it can be treated as immaterial. — Literary Hub, 19 May 2026

The fact that it was conceived without thought and for decades was produced and consumed without thought is immaterial. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 20 June 2026

The challenge was to create something that feels almost immaterial, while still making a real shoe. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 26 May 2026

Local women are invited to share still-raw memories, to grapple together with the kinds of things that would be immaterial to the courts. — Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English immaterial, from Late Latin immaterialis, from Latin in- + Late Latin materialis material

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for immaterial

• arterial
• bacterial
• ethereal
• funereal
• imperial
• material
• sidereal
• venereal
• antibacterial
• biomaterial
• mycobacterial
• cereal

Kids Definition

immaterial

adjective

im·​ma·​te·​ri·​al ˌim-ə-ˈtir-ē-əl 

1

: not consisting of matter

2

: not important : insignificant

Legal Definition

immaterial

adjective

im·​ma·​te·​ri·​al ˌi-mə-ˈtir-ē-əl 

: not essential, pertinent, or of consequence

the jury could have discounted the medical history evidence, or while accepting its accuracy, found it immaterial

—Willett v. State, 911 S.W.2d 937 (1995)

compare irrelevant

immateriality

ˌi-mə-ˌtir-ē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun