Immaterial

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Immaterial

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adjective

Pronunciation

ih-muh-TEER-ee-ul  /ɪməˈtɪərɪəl/

Definition

Not important under the circumstances; irrelevant; having no effect on the matter at hand. In philosophy: not composed of matter; spiritual or incorporeal; existing without physical substance.

Plain meaning

Immaterial has two main uses. In everyday and legal language, it means not relevant or not important — the details are immaterial to the case. In philosophy and theology, it means not made of matter — spirits, souls, and minds are often described as immaterial entities that exist without physical substance. Both senses share the idea of something that doesn't weigh on the physical or practical scale.

Register

Formal in both senses. The legal sense — this evidence is immaterial to the case — is standard legal vocabulary. The philosophical sense is standard in philosophy and theology. The everyday sense is slightly formal compared to irrelevant or doesn't matter.