immaterial

USAGE SUMMARY

'immaterial' is a perfectly correct and usable word in written English.
It is used to describe something that is unimportant or without value. For example: "The immaterial details of the story were not important to the overall plot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It renders their own survival immaterial and means they're programmed to do whatever's necessary to enhance the survival of the group.

The Guardian

"That's immaterial to me.

The Guardian

Even now, when kidney transplantation has become routine, about 15% of transplant patients lose their new kidneys this way within a year of the operation.In this section Sound reasons to prevent kidney rejection The ne plus ultra of medicine The immaterial world ReprintsThe usual first sign of a rejection episode by which time it is well under way is the fact that the patient feels unwell.

The Economist

Their colour seems to have been immaterial: black, white, Asian or mixed-race, what they had in common was their refusal to toe the official line.

The Economist

A whole generation of children the last one coalesced into something immaterial and supremely powerful, so removing all trace of separate humanity from the earth.

The Economist

Mr Pinker brings in the noble savage belief in the gentleness of primitive man and the ghost in the machine reluctance to abandon an immaterial mind or soul largely for the polemical fun of torching a few straw men.The idea of a blank slate came to underpin 20th-century behaviourism, typified by B.F. Skinner, for whom human beings were little more than conditioned automata.

The Economist

It should be up to individuals, not governments, to distinguish what is right or wrong, useful or immaterial.

The Economist

As millions have moved to urban areas in search of work, they have left the rigid social groupings of their villages for the relative anonymity of cities, and swapped hereditary trades for jobs in which family background is largely immaterial.

The Economist

The distinction between for-profit and non-profits was immaterial, the lawyers argued.

The Economist

In my view it was immaterial whether it was with the Conservatives or with Labour.

The Economist

The curator is to be Christopher Eamon of New York's Whitney Museum, who with an art consultant, Thea Westreich, helped build the Kramlich collection.To serve the house's dual function, the designers have used what they call "material and immaterial architecture".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "immaterial", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you mean lacking physical substance or irrelevant. Clarity is key for effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "immaterial" when you specifically mean 'unimportant' or 'irrelevant'. "Immaterial" carries a nuanced meaning that includes lacking physical substance; using a more precise word can improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The word "immaterial" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate either a lack of physical substance or a lack of relevance. Ludwig AI confirms the word's correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "immaterial" functions as an adjective with two primary meanings: lacking physical substance or being irrelevant. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread and correct usage, particularly in News & Media and Science. While semantically related to terms like "irrelevant" and "unimportant", "immaterial" possesses a unique nuance, especially when denoting the absence of physical matter. The most effective writing practice involves ensuring the context clearly indicates the intended meaning, avoiding confusion with similar terms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irrelevant

Focuses specifically on the lack of relevance to a particular situation.

unimportant

Highlights the lack of significance or value.

inconsequential

Emphasizes the lack of impact or consequence.

insignificant

Stresses the minimal degree or size of something.

negligible

Indicates something is so small it can be disregarded.

beside the point

Indicates something is off-topic or doesn't address the main issue.

of no account

Highlights the lack of worth or importance.

without substance

Focuses on the lack of physical or intellectual content.

extraneous

Highlights being irrelevant to the subject at hand.

impertinent

Emphasizes the lack of relevance or appropriateness.

FAQs

How to use "immaterial" in a sentence?

You can use "immaterial" to describe something lacking physical substance, as in "The soul is considered immaterial". Alternatively, you can use it to describe something irrelevant, as in "His opinion is immaterial to the decision".

What can I say instead of "immaterial"?

You can use alternatives like "irrelevant", "unimportant", or "inconsequential" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "immaterial" or "immaterial to"?

Both are correct depending on the context. "Immaterial" can stand alone as an adjective, or it can be followed by "to" to specify what something is immaterial to, such as "The cost is immaterial to the project's success".

What's the difference between "immaterial" and "irrelevant"?

"Immaterial" can mean lacking physical substance or being irrelevant, while "irrelevant" solely means not connected to or important to a particular matter. "Immaterial" has a broader range of meanings.