raw material

noun

: crude or processed material that can be converted by manufacture, processing, or combination into a new and useful product
wheat … is raw material for the flour millC. A. Koepke
broadly : something with a potential for improvement, development, or elaboration
perplexities are often the raw material of discoveries Agnes M. Clerke

Examples of raw material in a Sentence

His experiences during the war were the raw material for the story.
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.
In India’s Moga district, Nestlé invested in infrastructure and training for local dairy farmers, raising the region's standard of living and securing a stable supply of quality raw materials, ensuring its business success. Michael Shribman, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025 Era of Nature is a brand committed to creating natural, high-quality skincare that uses unrefined raw materials. Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025 The textiles are then cleaned, sorted and recycled into raw materials for products (like mattress fillers and pet bedding). Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2025 This success has been driven by government subsidies, aggressive industrial policies, and a singular focus on securing critical raw materials, often at a high geopolitical and environmental price. Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for raw material 

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of raw material was in 1612

Dictionary Entries Near raw material

Cite this Entry

“Raw material.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raw%20material. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

raw material

noun
: something from which a useful or desirable product can be manufactured or produced
wheat and rye are the raw materials for a flour mill
collect raw material for writing a story

More from Merriam-Webster on raw material

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