substantial

adjective

sub·​stan·​tial səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl 

1

a

: consisting of or relating to substance

b

: not imaginary or illusory : real, true

c

: important, essential

2

: ample to satisfy and nourish : full

a substantial meal

3

a

: possessed of means : well-to-do

b

: considerable in quantity : significantly great

earned a substantial wage

4

: firmly constructed : sturdy

a substantial house

5

: being largely but not wholly that which is specified

a substantial lie

substantial noun

substantiality

səb-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

substantially

səb-ˈstan(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

substantialness

səb-ˈstan(t)-shəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• big
• consequential
• earth-shattering
• earthshaking
• eventful
• historic
• important
• major
• material
• meaningful
• momentous
• monumental
• much
• significant
• tectonic
• weighty

Examples of substantial in a Sentence

A substantial number of people commute to work each day.

Activities like that pose a substantial risk of injury.

She purchased her tickets at a substantial discount.

Only the buildings that were constructed of more substantial materials survived the earthquake.

I was hoping that they would serve us something more substantial than wine and cheese.

Recent Examples on the Web

The lot of the property covers a substantial area of 7,035 square feet. —Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024

Still, conventional computing logic suggests that the desktop implementation would draw more speed out of it with more powerful cooling and more space for more substantial cooling hardware. —PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

So far, the Nov. 3 report noted, the impact of that uncertainty on actual economic activity has not been substantial. —Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024

The Clippers responded by cutting down its mistakes, not turning over the ball and making the right play, enabling them to build a substantial lead in the second half. —Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

substantial

adjective

sub·​stan·​tial səb-ˈstan-chəl 

1

a

: consisting of or relating to substance : material

b

: not imaginary : real

the substantial world

c

: important sense 1, essential

substantial differences

2

: enough to satisfy and nourish

a substantial meal

3

a

: prosperous sense 1

a substantial farmer

b

: considerable in quantity : significantly large

a substantial increase

4

: firmly constructed

a substantial building

substantiality

-ˌstan-chē-ˈal-ət-ē 

noun

substantially

-ˈstanch-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

substantial

adjective

sub·​stan·​tial səb-ˈstan-chəl 

1

a

: of or relating to substance

b

: not illusory : having merit

failed to raise a substantial constitutional claim

c

: having importance or significance : material

a substantial step had not been taken toward commission of the crime

—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

2

: considerable in quantity : significantly great

identification of serious and substantial failure to perform

—U.S. Code

compare de minimis

substantiality

-ˌstan-chē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

substantially adverb