immaterial
gb/ˌɪmətˈɪɹiəl/ us/ˌɪmətˈɪɹiəl/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
not relevant or important
not important or not connected with the situation
Usage pattern:
[something] is immaterial; immaterial to [something]; it is immaterial whether/that [clause]
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.
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)
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
Themes
communication
|decisions
|law
|reasoning
Examples
- Her personal opinion is immaterial to the legal question before the court.
- It is immaterial whether the mistake was intentional; the form still has to be corrected.
- 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.
- The small delay was immaterial.
adjective
business
C1
property
2
too small to affect decisions
too small or unimportant to change a business or financial decision
Usage pattern:
[an amount/error/difference] is immaterial; immaterial to [a report/decision/assessment]
Common mistake:
In accounting and finance, “immaterial” is the opposite of “material,” meaning significant enough to affect decisions.
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)
Collocations
immaterial amount
|immaterial error
|immaterial misstatement
|immaterial variance
|immaterial difference
|immaterial impact
|quantitatively immaterial
|individually immaterial
|financially immaterial
|deemed immaterial
Themes
business
|finance
|accounting
|law
|decisions
Examples
- The auditor concluded that the accounting error was immaterial to the financial statements.
- A few missing receipts were considered immaterial because the amounts were so small.
- The company said the settlement would have an immaterial impact on annual earnings.
Learner examples
- The error was immaterial to the final report.
- The amount was too small and was treated as immaterial.
adjective
formal
C1
property
3
without physical substance
not physical; not made of matter
Usage pattern:
immaterial [thing/being/quality]; [something] is immaterial
Common mistake:
This sense is less common in everyday conversation. “Nonphysical” is usually clearer for learners.
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)
Collocations
immaterial soul
|immaterial mind
|immaterial spirit
|immaterial being
|immaterial reality
|immaterial world
|immaterial realm
|immaterial essence
|immaterial substance
|purely immaterial
Themes
philosophy
|religion
|abstract_ideas
Examples
- Some religious traditions describe the soul as immaterial and separate from the body.
- The philosopher argued that thoughts are immaterial, not objects located in space.
- The story presents the ghost as an immaterial presence that cannot be touched.
Learner examples
- They believed the soul was immaterial.
- A ghost is often imagined as an immaterial being.
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.