immaterial

adjective

im·​ma·​te·​ri·​al ˌi-mə-ˈtir-ē-əl How to pronounce immaterial (audio)
1
: of no substantial consequence : unimportant
2
: not consisting of matter : incorporeal

Examples of immaterial in a Sentence

Whether or not he intended to cause problems is immaterial. The fact that she is a woman is immaterial and irrelevant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Development revenue remained consistent with immaterial amounts for the quarter, while total revenue decreased to $547,000 from $3,833,000 in the previous year. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024 Some see the paltry number of artifacts returned as an inherent insult, while others protest that the immaterial aspects of their cultural past were never lost and shouldn’t be discounted. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024 To a threat actor working to break into and move through a network, the form and function of an asset is immaterial. Jim Hyman, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 The hackers were also members of the People’s Liberation Army, but their employer was immaterial; theft was theft. Garrett M. Graff, WIRED, 16 Jan. 2020 See all Example Sentences for immaterial 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English immaterial, from Late Latin immaterialis, from Latin in- + Late Latin materialis material

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of immaterial was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near immaterial

Cite this Entry

“Immaterial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immaterial. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

immaterial

adjective
im·​ma·​te·​ri·​al ˌim-ə-ˈtir-ē-əl How to pronounce immaterial (audio)
1
: not consisting of matter
2
: not important : insignificant

Legal Definition

immaterial

adjective
im·​ma·​te·​ri·​al ˌi-mə-ˈtir-ē-əl How to pronounce immaterial (audio)
: not essential, pertinent, or of consequence
the jury could have discounted the medical history evidence, or while accepting its accuracy, found it immaterialWillett v. State, 911 S.W.2d 937 (1995)
compare irrelevant
immateriality noun

More from Merriam-Webster on immaterial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!