Langimage
English

immaterial

|im/ma/te/ri/al|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˌɪməˈtɪriəl/

🇬🇧

/ˌɪməˈtɪəriəl/

not material or relevant

Etymology
Etymology Information

'immaterial' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'immaterialis,' where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'materialis' meant 'material.'

Historical Evolution

'immaterialis' transformed into the Old French word 'immateriel,' and eventually became the modern English word 'immaterial' through Middle English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'not consisting of matter,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'irrelevant or unimportant.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adjective 1

not having physical substance or form; not material.

The soul is considered immaterial.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Adjective 2

irrelevant or unimportant under the circumstances.

The color of the car is immaterial to its performance.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35