immaterial
gb/ˌɪmətˈɪɹiəl/ us/ˌɪmətˈɪɹiəl/
C1
English
lényegtelen, nem lényeges, elhanyagolható, anyagtalan
C1
FORMAL
1
lényegtelen
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is immaterial; immaterial to [something]; it is immaterial whether/that [clause]
Her personal opinion is immaterial to the legal question before the court.
A személyes véleménye lényegtelen a bíróság előtt álló jogi kérdés szempontjából.
It is immaterial whether the mistake was intentional; the form still has to be corrected.
Lényegtelen, hogy a hiba szándékos volt-e; az űrlapot így is ki kell javítani.
The color of the packaging is largely immaterial as long as the product is clearly labeled.
Learner examples
His age is immaterial to the job decision.
Az életkora lényegtelen a felvételi döntés szempontjából.
The small delay was immaterial.
A kis késés lényegtelen volt.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this sense with the physical meaning “not made of matter.” In everyday speech, “irrelevant” or “not important” is usually more common.
Meaning
not relevant or important
Collocations
immaterial to the question
|immaterial to the case
|immaterial whether
|an immaterial detail
|an immaterial fact
|an immaterial difference
|largely immaterial
|ultimately immaterial
|wholly immaterial
|legally immaterial
Synonyms
irrelevant (more common and neutral; stresses lack of connection)
|
unimportant (simpler and more general; stresses low importance)
|
beside the point (idiomatic; stresses that something does not address the issue)
|
inconsequential (formal; stresses that something has no meaningful effect)
Antonyms
relevant (directly connected with the matter being considered)
|
important (having significant value or effect)
|
material (especially in law or business, relevant and significant enough to matter)
Themes
communication
|decisions
|law
|reasoning
Definition
not important or not connected with the situation
Not relevant or important in a particular situation; making no difference to what is being considered or decided.
C1
BUSINESS
2
nem lényeges
C1
Usage pattern:
[an amount/error/difference] is immaterial; immaterial to [a report/decision/assessment]
The auditor concluded that the accounting error was immaterial to the financial statements.
A könyvvizsgáló arra a következtetésre jutott, hogy a számviteli hiba nem lényeges a pénzügyi kimutatások szempontjából.
A few missing receipts were considered immaterial because the amounts were so small.
Néhány hiányzó nyugtát nem tekintettek lényegesnek, mert az összegek olyan kicsik voltak.
The company said the settlement would have an immaterial impact on annual earnings.
Learner examples
The error was immaterial to the final report.
A hiba nem volt lényeges a végleges jelentés szempontjából.
The amount was too small and was treated as immaterial.
Az összeg túl kicsi volt, ezért nem lényegesnek tekintették.
Common mistake:
In accounting and finance, “immaterial” is the opposite of “material,” meaning significant enough to affect decisions.
Meaning
too small to affect decisions
Collocations
immaterial amount
|immaterial error
|immaterial misstatement
|immaterial variance
|immaterial difference
|immaterial impact
|quantitatively immaterial
|individually immaterial
|financially immaterial
|deemed immaterial
Synonyms
insignificant (general term for not large or important enough to matter)
|
negligible (emphasizes that an amount or effect is extremely small)
|
minor (less formal; suggests limited seriousness or size)
|
nonmaterial (technical accounting synonym; less common in general English)
Antonyms
material (significant enough to affect a decision or report)
|
significant (large or important enough to be noticed or considered)
|
substantial (considerable in size, value, or effect)
Themes
business
|finance
|accounting
|law
|decisions
Definition
too small or unimportant to change a business or financial decision
Too small or insignificant to affect a decision, judgment, financial statement, or business assessment.
C1
FORMAL
3
anyagtalan
C1
Usage pattern:
immaterial [thing/being/quality]; [something] is immaterial
Some religious traditions describe the soul as immaterial and separate from the body.
Egyes vallási hagyományok a lelket anyagtalannak és a testtől különállónak írják le.
The philosopher argued that thoughts are immaterial, not objects located in space.
A filozófus azzal érvelt, hogy a gondolatok anyagtalanok, nem a térben elhelyezkedő tárgyak.
The story presents the ghost as an immaterial presence that cannot be touched.
Learner examples
They believed the soul was immaterial.
Úgy hitték, hogy a lélek anyagtalan.
A ghost is often imagined as an immaterial being.
A szellemet gyakran anyagtalan lényként képzelik el.
Common mistake:
This sense is less common in everyday conversation. “Nonphysical” is usually clearer for learners.
Meaning
without physical substance
Collocations
immaterial soul
|immaterial mind
|immaterial spirit
|immaterial being
|immaterial reality
|immaterial world
|immaterial realm
|immaterial essence
|immaterial substance
|purely immaterial
Synonyms
nonphysical (clearer and more common in modern general English)
|
incorporeal (more literary or philosophical; means having no body)
|
spiritual (relates to religion or the spirit rather than matter)
|
intangible (often means unable to be touched or measured directly, not always literally nonphysical)
Antonyms
physical (existing in material form or relating to the body)
|
material (made of matter or relating to physical substance)
|
corporeal (formal; having a physical body)
Themes
philosophy
|religion
|abstract_ideas
Definition
not physical; not made of matter
Not made of physical matter; existing as or relating to something without physical substance.
Grammar
Dictionary form
immaterial
IPA
GB/ˌɪmətˈɪɹiəl/
US/ˌɪmətˈɪɹiəl/
Syllables & stress
im - ma - ter - i - al (5 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ter)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: immaterial
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.