devoid of material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devoid of material" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that lacks physical substance or content. Example: "The report was deemed devoid of material evidence, leading to its dismissal in court."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The purely subjective rating of art works, which are all but devoid of material value, encounters no rational financial limit in either direction.

The New Yorker

And just as throughout his life he was almost entirely devoid of material possessions, so, too, was he remote from other people.

The New Yorker

In the other region, the ion milling process for the TEM sample preparation has resulted in numerous regions devoid of material.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Neurath rejected, along these lines, the language of the unconscious and the ego, subjective mental states devoid of material -physiological-, perceptual operationalnal correlates.

SEP

But the wise, enlightened person knows God's unity, and his essence that is completely devoid of material boundaries..

Huffington Post

These were characterised by small knots of dendrites which appeared distinct and were devoid of material within the extracellular space (Fig. 2C).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

You are creative and expressive, and eager to solve problems with limited or nonexistent resources in a lean environment devoid of materials, personnel, and budgets.

The New Yorker

Figure 5A shows an attached cell after 30 minutes of incubation, whose surface is generally devoid of extracellular material, while Fig. 5B shows some extracellular fibrillar material that was observed after 2 h (without alcian blue treatment).

Plosone

In addition, a greater fraction (60 70%) of the tumor area was occupied by eosinophilic material, most likely colloidal casein or other proteins (Fig. 7B) or empty spaces completely devoid of any material (Fig. 7C).

Cancer Medicine

Because the BEM does not employ domain meshes in linear cases, the resulting topologies are completely devoid of intermediary material densities.

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

In his letter, addressed to CNRS top leadership, he stresses that one of the defining characteristics of the French academic world is that it awards "symbolic recognition devoid of any material benefits".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing abstract concepts or ideas, using "devoid of material" can effectively emphasize their lack of physical form or basis. For instance, "The philosophical argument was devoid of material evidence" clearly conveys its reliance on abstract reasoning rather than concrete facts.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "devoid of material" in casual conversation or informal writing can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "empty" or "lacking substance" to maintain a more natural tone in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devoid of material" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating a lack of physical substance or content, as exemplified in Ludwig's examples where it describes art works, regions in a sample, or even abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "devoid of material" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe something lacking physical substance. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is acceptable in written English, particularly within scientific, academic, or news contexts where precision and formality are valued. Although not exceedingly common, its usage is consistent across reputable sources. When aiming for a more casual tone, consider utilizing alternative phrases such as "lacking physical substance" or "empty of substance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lacking physical substance

Replaces "devoid" with "lacking" and "material" with "physical substance" to emphasize the absence of a tangible component.

empty of substance

Substitutes "devoid" with "empty" and "material" with "substance", focusing on the emptiness or lack of content.

without any physical component

Rephrases the concept to highlight the absence of a physical element or ingredient.

bereft of tangible matter

Uses "bereft" as a more formal synonym for "devoid" and "tangible matter" to emphasize the lack of perceivable substance.

absent of substantial matter

Uses "absent" for "devoid" and "substantial matter" to focus on the lack of significant or considerable material.

containing no physical elements

Shifts the focus to what the subject contains (or rather, doesn't contain) and specifies the absence of physical elements.

free from solid matter

Indicates the absence of solid components, often used in scientific or technical contexts.

lacking materiality

Replaces "material" with the more abstract term "materiality", emphasizing the absence of physical existence or significance.

without concrete existence

Emphasizes the lack of a real or tangible presence.

immaterial

A single-word replacement that means lacking physical form or substance; spiritual.

FAQs

How can I use "devoid of material" in a sentence?

You can use "devoid of material" to describe something lacking physical substance or content. For example: "The argument was "devoid of material" evidence."

What are some alternatives to "devoid of material"?

Alternatives include "lacking physical substance", "empty of substance", or "immaterial" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "devoid of material" or "lacking material"?

"Devoid of material" and "lacking material" are similar, but "devoid" is often considered more formal and emphatic. The best choice depends on the desired tone and context.

What's the difference between "devoid of material" and "immaterial"?

"Devoid of material" implies the absence of physical substance. "Immaterial" can also mean irrelevant or unimportant, in addition to lacking physical form.