immaterial

adjective

im·​ma·​te·​ri·​al ˌi-mə-ˈtir-ē-əl 

1

: of no substantial consequence : unimportant

2

: not consisting of matter : incorporeal

Synonyms

• bodiless
• ethereal
• formless
• incorporeal
• insubstantial
• nonmaterial
• nonphysical
• spiritual
• unbodied
• unsubstantial

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

So, how can the immaterial affect the material? —Big Think, 12 Apr. 2025

The orchestra produces a ravishment of sound both immaterial and downright tactile. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025

For the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, the amounts received were immaterial. —Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025

Academy members either deemed the claims false, misleading or immaterial to their assignment of evaluating the quality of a film. —Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025

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

• magisterial
• managerial
• ministerial
• nonmaterial
• presbyterial
• antibacterial
• biomaterial
• mycobacterial
• arterial
• bacterial
• ethereal
• funereal

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