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 mill—
C. A. Koepke
C. A. Koepke
broadly
: something with a potential for improvement, development, or elaboration
perplexities are often the raw material of discoveries —Agnes M. Clerke
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
Both are considered critical raw materials by the United States, the European Union, China and Japan.
—David Yusufu Kibingila, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
The exposure is real: Ford’s sprawling supply chain relies heavily on imports of auto parts and raw materials, particularly from Mexico, Canada, and China.
—Catherine Baab, Quartz, 6 May 2025
And the many that import raw materials and parts far outnumber those that make goods in the U.S., staffing officials said.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 2 May 2025
The other issue is that Trump’s tariffs are raising the costs for the raw materials to build the satellites.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for raw material
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.
David Yusufu Kibingila, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
The exposure is real: Ford’s sprawling supply chain relies heavily on imports of auto parts and raw materials, particularly from Mexico, Canada, and China.
—Catherine Baab, Quartz, 6 May 2025
And the many that import raw materials and parts far outnumber those that make goods in the U.S., staffing officials said.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 2 May 2025
The other issue is that Trump’s tariffs are raising the costs for the raw materials to build the satellites.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for raw material
Cite this Entry
“Raw material.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raw%20material. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share