Immaterial Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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immaterial
[หษชmษหtษชษriษl ]
Definitions
not important
Not relevant or significant; unimportant.
Synonyms
insignificant, irrelevant, negligible.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| immaterial |
Used in legal or formal settings to indicate that something does not matter or has no importance in a particular situation.
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| insignificant |
Used to describe something that is too small or unimportant to have any noticeable effect or influence.
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| irrelevant |
Used to indicate that something is not related or pertinent to the current topic or situation.
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| negligible |
Used to describe something so small or minor that it is not worth considering or making a difference.
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Examples of usage
- Money was immaterial to him
- The color of the car was immaterial to her decision
spiritual
Not consisting of matter; spiritual or supernatural.
Synonyms
ethereal, spiritual, supernatural.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| immaterial |
This term is often used in legal, philosophical, or general contexts to describe something that lacks physical substance or is irrelevant to the matter at hand.
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| spiritual |
Refers to matters related to the spirit, soul, or non-material aspects of life, often in religious or philosophical discussions.
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| supernatural |
Used when discussing phenomena that are beyond the laws of nature and cannot be explained scientifically, often in contexts involving myths, legends, or fiction.
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| ethereal |
Used to describe something delicate, light, or otherworldly, often in a poetic or artistic context.
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Examples of usage
- The immaterial world of spirits
- His beliefs were deeply immaterial
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Philosophy
- Philosophers discuss immateriality in debates about the nature of reality, particularly in relation to the mind and consciousness.
- In dualism, the mind is often seen as immaterial, separate from the physical brain.
Science
- In physics, concepts like energy and information can be considered immaterial since they don't occupy space like matter.
- Quantum mechanics introduces phenomena that challenge our understanding of material and immaterial, questioning the nature of reality itself.
Art
- Immaterial art movements, such as performance art, focus on experiences and ideas rather than physical objects.
- Artists like Yves Klein created works that emphasized immateriality, exploring the concept of what's 'not there' yet deeply felt.
Pop Culture
- The term frequently appears in discussions about digital media, emphasizing how virtual creations and experiences are often immaterial.
- Movies and literature often explore themes of the immaterial, such as ghosts or spirits, emphasizing connections beyond the physical world.
Origin of 'immaterial'
Main points about word origin
- Originates from the Latin word 'immateralis', which means 'not composed of matter'.
- In medieval philosophy, it was often used to describe spirits or ideas that exist outside the physical world.
The word 'immaterial' originated from the Latin word 'immaterialis', which is a combination of 'in-' (not) and 'materia' (matter). It first appeared in English in the late 16th century with the meaning 'spiritual' or 'not consisting of matter'. Over time, it evolved to also mean 'not important' or 'insignificant'.
See also: immateriality, material, materialism, materiality, materialization, materialize, materially, materials.