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.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, the amounts received were immaterial. Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025 Meanwhile, forwards Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews sat out the team’s otherwise immaterial 2-1 loss to Sweden out of an abundance of caution, and Brady Tkachuk left the game in the middle of the first period after crashing into the cage. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Feb. 2025 The inconvenience for residents, business owners, customers or guests is immaterial. Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 The Pennsylvania State Conference of the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other organizations claimed the requirement violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits states from denying the right to vote because of an immaterial error. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Immaterial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immaterial. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

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

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