substantial

adjective

sub·​stan·​tial səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl How to pronounce substantial (audio)
1
a
: consisting of or relating to substance
b
: not imaginary or illusory : real, true
2
: ample to satisfy and nourish : full
a substantial meal
3
a
: possessed of means : well-to-do
b
: considerable in quantity : significantly great
earned a substantial wage
4
: firmly constructed : sturdy
a substantial house
5
: being largely but not wholly that which is specified
a substantial lie
substantial noun
substantiality noun
substantially adverb
substantialness noun

Examples of substantial in a Sentence

A substantial number of people commute to work each day. Activities like that pose a substantial risk of injury. She purchased her tickets at a substantial discount. Only the buildings that were constructed of more substantial materials survived the earthquake. I was hoping that they would serve us something more substantial than wine and cheese.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This, coupled with liquidity issues, can lead to cash flow crises, forcing sales at substantial discounts. Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 The spending will be paid for, in part, through substantial cuts to social safety net programs. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 Those were the early days of Bill de Blasio’s mayorship, which represented a substantial ideological shift from that of his predecessor. Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 30 June 2025 The substantial cuts to Medicaid, a program jointly funded by states and the federal government, largely stem from two features in the bill, The New York Times notes. ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for substantial

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of substantial was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Substantial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substantial. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

substantial

adjective
sub·​stan·​tial səb-ˈstan-chəl How to pronounce substantial (audio)
1
a
: consisting of or relating to substance : material
b
: not imaginary : real
the substantial world
c
: important sense 1, essential
substantial differences
2
: enough to satisfy and nourish
a substantial meal
3
a
: prosperous sense 1
a substantial farmer
b
: considerable in quantity : significantly large
a substantial increase
4
: firmly constructed
a substantial building
substantiality noun
substantially adverb

Legal Definition

substantial

adjective
sub·​stan·​tial səb-ˈstan-chəl How to pronounce substantial (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to substance
b
: not illusory : having merit
failed to raise a substantial constitutional claim
c
: having importance or significance : material
a substantial step had not been taken toward commission of the crimeW. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
2
: considerable in quantity : significantly great
identification of serious and substantial failure to performU.S. Code
compare de minimis
substantiality noun
substantially adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on substantial

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