first-rate material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first-rate material" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something of high quality or excellence, often in contexts like products, skills, or resources. For example, "The team selected first-rate material for the construction project." Alternative expressions include "top-quality material" and "premium material."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Jarecki interviews Sekzer at length, and it's the only first-rate material in the movie.

The New Yorker

Not only is it first-rate material, but all the proceeds go to Unicef, the United Nations Children's Fund.

The New York Times - Arts

None of them had been identified by N.F.L. scouts or even college recruiters as first-rate material.

The New York Times - Magazine

In commissioning this issue of The New York Times Magazine, which was shot entirely by women, the editors were faced with the delightful nightmare of having a glut of first-rate material from which to choose.

The New York Times - Magazine

But after years of visiting, I can report that it consistently produces some of the best Asian shows in town, with first-rate material, handsome installations and catalogs by some of the more glamorous specialists in the field.

The New York Times - Arts

And, as the surprising success of this season's revival of "Follies" has proven, a first-rate production of first-rate material does not necessarily require a visiting luminary from Hollywood to become a hot ticket on Broadway.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Attractive visuals and first-rate materials are among the hallmarks of our products.

University of Chicago

It also made the house agree to sell a lot of second-rate material.

The New York Times

Or is he a fine actor wasted on such third-rate material?

The Guardian - Film

No, just forget it; Gladys Knight And The Pips wouldn't have even looked at this third-rate material.

The Guardian - Film

Reduced expectations will help – the leads wring odd snickers from second-rate material – but with its bland blasts of chart pop, it's less riot-grrrl provocation than sporadically rowdy coffee morning.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to signal that something is of the highest possible quality without sounding overly technical or hyperbolic.

Common error

While it is common in sports scouting or military recruiting to refer to people as 'material' (e.g., 'officer material'), describing individuals purely as "first-rate material" in a general professional setting can come across as reductive or dehumanizing. Reserve 'material' for objects, scripts, data or raw resources, and use 'personnel' or 'talent' for human beings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first-rate material" functions as a noun phrase consisting of a compound adjective and a head noun. In Ludwig, it is shown to act as a qualitative evaluator. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and standard.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "first-rate material" is a highly versatile and robust phrase used to denote excellence across multiple domains. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and common expression. Whether you are discussing scientific components like titanium, journalistic content or artistic scripts, this phrase effectively communicates high quality. It is most frequently found in authoritative news sources and technical journals. Writers should remember to maintain the hyphenated form when using it as a modifier to ensure clarity and professional polish.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

top-quality material

Uses a more direct adjective to emphasize quality without the idiomatic flavor of 'first-rate'.

premium material

Suggests a higher price point or exclusive nature in addition to quality.

first-class material

A very close synonym that shares the numerical ranking metaphor.

high-grade material

Commonly used in industrial, scientific or technical contexts.

superior material

Emphasizes that the material is better than other available options.

top-tier material

Modern business phrasing used to categorize items in the highest bracket.

excellent content

Specific to creative or informational works rather than physical substances.

exceptional material

Highlights the rare or unusual nature of the quality.

high-end material

Often used in luxury or consumer goods contexts.

choice material

An older but elegant way to describe material that has been carefully selected for quality.

FAQs

How do I use "first-rate material" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe anything of high quality, for example: 'The architect insisted on using only "top-quality material" for the foundation.' In a literary sense, you might say, 'The actor's performance was hindered by the lack of "first-rate material" in the script.'

What is the difference between "first-rate material" and "first-class material"?

Both are largely interchangeable. However, "first-class material" often implies a standard of luxury or service, whereas "first-rate material" focuses more on general excellence or effectiveness.

Should "first-rate" always be hyphenated?

Yes, when it precedes the noun it describes, such as in "first-rate material". If it comes after the noun, the hyphen is often dropped, as in 'The material was first rate,' though keeping the hyphen is also acceptable in modern usage.

What can I say instead of "first-rate material" for a luxury product?

For luxury goods, you might prefer terms like "premium material" or "high-end material" to better convey exclusivity.