matter

1 of 2

noun

mat·​ter ˈma-tər How to pronounce matter (audio)
1
a
: a subject under consideration
Several other matters will come before the committee.
b
: a subject of disagreement or litigation
The matter in dispute is basically trivial.
c
matters plural : the events or circumstances of a particular situation
planned to discuss matters with her husband soon
d
: the subject or substance of a discourse or writing
A graceful style was not enough to hide a paucity of matter.
e
: something of an indicated kind or having to do with an indicated field or situation
this is a serious matter
as a matter of policy
matters of faith
f
: something to be proved in law
g
obsolete : sensible or serious material as distinguished from nonsense or drollery
h(1)
obsolete : reason, cause
(2)
: a source especially of feeling or emotion
i
: problem, difficulty
What's the matter?
2
a
: the substance of which a physical object is composed
b
: material substance that occupies space, has mass, and is composed predominantly of atoms consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons, that constitutes the observable universe, and that is interconvertible with energy
c
: a material substance of a particular kind or for a particular purpose
vegetable matter
d(1)
: material (such as feces or urine) discharged from the living body
(2)
: material discharged by suppuration : pus
3
a
: the indeterminate subject of reality
especially : the element in the universe that undergoes formation and alteration
b
: the formless substratum of all things which exists only potentially and upon which form acts to produce realities
4
: a more or less definite amount or quantity
cooks in a matter of minutes
5
: something written or printed
matter suitable for photocomposition
6
: mail entry 1
first-class matter
7
Christian Science : the illusion that the objects perceived by the physical senses have the reality of substance

matter

2 of 2

verb

mattered; mattering; matters

intransitive verb

1
: to form or discharge pus : suppurate
mattering wound
2
: to be of importance : signify
Phrases
as a matter of fact
: in fact : actually
for that matter
: so far as that is concerned
no matter
: without regard to : irrespective of
points in the same direction no matter how it is tilted
no matter what
: regardless of the costs, consequences, or results
wants to win, no matter what
the matter
: wrong
nothing's the matter with me

Example Sentences

Noun He has a few personal matters to deal with. Disagreement is one thing, but accusations of lying are a different matter altogether! Can matter and energy be changed into each other? Verb It may not matter to you, but it matters a lot to me! “Why are you being so quiet?” “Does it matter?” “Of course it matters!”
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Enter Email Sign Up Auchincloss and colleagues in both parties were faced with one of the more stark instances of realpolitik, in which the consequences of inaction — both to the nation’s economy and to their own political parties — far outweighed more ordinary matters of principle. Jim Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 31 May 2023 There’s also the matter of the Internal Revenue Service. Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, 30 May 2023 There’s also the matter of shrinking residuals — the percentage of profits some writers get each time their show is re-aired or licensed. Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 29 May 2023 Roman Polanski holed up in an Alpine chalet briefly to skirt U.S. justice, and some of the world’s financial magnates and business gurus have been attracted by the country’s relatively low taxes and secrecy about money matters. Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 26 May 2023 Lynne, for her part, had a complex role in Britney’s legal matters — eventually, the star’s mom supported the end of the conservatorship, only to turn around and ask Britney to pay her $663,203 in legal fees after a judge struck it down. Vulture, 26 May 2023 Negotiators also made progress on including a measure to ensure that the government stays funded through 2024, said two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private talks. Rachel Siegel, Jeff Stein, Paul Kane And Leigh Ann Caldwell, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 26 May 2023 Successful cleanups tempered by new threats from climate change Warmer waters disrupt the food web in spring Lake water mixes every spring when the surface water warms, bringing up nutrients and organic matter that was stuck on the bottom all winter. Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 26 May 2023 Taurasi dished out two assists that helped her team continue its lead in the second quarter, while taking matters into her own hands with two 3s and a key defensive rebound that set up Sutton’s driving layup. Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 26 May 2023
Verb
But in a little over two years, Woodson has turned a listing program into a relevant one in college basketball, not least with the constituency that matters most. Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 1 June 2023 The movie also falls victim, somewhat, to the blessings and curses associated with the multiverse, which offers infinite possibilities but also the occasional sense that there are so many permutations none of them matter all that much. Brian Lowry, CNN, 1 June 2023 Although the Senate vote is still pending, the House debt ceiling maneuvering demonstrates that the middle, while shrinking, continues to matter. Matt Harris, The Conversation, 1 June 2023 Change management helps hone company priorities Getting the executive team onboard and focused on what matters is one of the first objectives of a transformation initiative. Anna Oakes, Quartz, 1 June 2023 Some economists believe the debt-to-GDP ratio is a better metric for gauging debt increase because the nominal levels of debt do not matter as much as how much debt the nation has as a share of its output, Primo said. Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023 What matters most, to Shah’s thinking, is how madras is made. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 30 May 2023 What matters in the end is that the company is left without any credible means of responding to the contretemps. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 30 May 2023 The rules will matter especially for Paxton’s wife, since spouses have different privileges against incriminating statements depending on whether the body adopts criminal trial rules. Allie Morris, Dallas News, 29 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'matter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English matere, from Anglo-French, from Latin materia matter, physical substance, from mater

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of matter was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near matter

Cite this Entry

“Matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matter. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

matter

1 of 2 noun
mat·​ter ˈmat-ər How to pronounce matter (audio)
1
a
: a subject of interest or concern
a matter of dispute
b
: something to be dealt with : affair
personal matters to take care of
2
a
: the substance of which a physical object is composed
especially : the material substance that occupies space, has mass, and makes up the observable universe
b
: material substance of a particular kind or function
vegetable matter
c
: pus
3
: a more or less definite amount or quantity
cooks in a matter of minutes
4
: something written or printed
5
: mail entry 1 sense 1
first-class matter

matter

2 of 2 verb
: to be of importance : signify

Medical Definition

matter

noun
mat·​ter ˈmat-ər How to pronounce matter (audio)
1
: material (as feces or urine) discharged or for discharge from the living body
an obstruction interfering with passage of matter from the intestine
2
: material discharged by suppuration : pus

Legal Definition

matter

noun
mat·​ter
1
: a subject of consideration, disagreement, or litigation: as
a
: a legal case, dispute, or issue
a matter within the court's jurisdiction
often used in titles of legal proceedings
matter of Doe
see also in re
b
: one or more facts, claims, or rights examined, disputed, asserted, proven, or determined by legal process
matter in controversy
: matter sense 1

called also matter in dispute

: the monetary amount involved in a case
matter in issue
: a matter that is in dispute as part or all of a legal issue
matter of fact
: a matter primarily involving proof or evidence rather than a question of law
matter of form
: a matter concerning form or details often of a relatively inessential nature rather than substance a petition invalid because of a matter of form
matter of law
: a matter involving or consisting of the application of law entitled to judgment as a matter of lawNational Law Journal
matter of record
: a matter (as a fact) entered on the record of a court or other official body the security interest was a matter of record
matter of substance
: a matter concerning the merits of a case rather than form or relatively inessential details
2
: written, printed, or postal material
obscene matter

More from Merriam-Webster on matter

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