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/məˈtɪəɹɪəl/ · ma·te·ri·al
noun
  1. Matter that can be shaped or manipulated, especially in manufacturing or construction. Steel is a durable material used in building skyscrapers.
  2. Written or spoken content created for a specific purpose, such as a performance or publication. The playwright submitted a fresh material for the upcoming theater season.
  3. A sample or specimen provided for study or examination. The lab sent us a material from the river to test for pollutants.
verb
  1. To form or shape something from matter. The sculptor materialed the marble into a graceful figure.
  2. To become actual or to appear; to materialize. After months of planning, the project finally materialed into a working prototype.
adjective
  1. Having to do with physical matter; consisting of matter. The material properties of the alloy determine its strength.
  2. Worldly rather than spiritual; concerned with material concerns. He chose a material lifestyle, focusing on wealth and possessions.
  3. Significant or essential. The testimony was material to the jury’s decision.
Did you know? The theatrical sense of “material” (meaning a script or routine) emerged in the early 19th century, reflecting the era’s growing professional stagecraft.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 14, 2026