matter

1 of 2

noun

mat·​ter ˈma-tər 

1

a

: a subject under consideration

Several other matters will come before the committee.

b

: a subject of disagreement or litigation

The matter in dispute is basically trivial.

c

matters plural : the events or circumstances of a particular situation

planned to discuss matters with her husband soon

d

: the subject or substance of a discourse or writing

A graceful style was not enough to hide a paucity of matter.

e

: something of an indicated kind or having to do with an indicated field or situation

this is a serious matter

as a matter of policy

matters of faith

f

: something to be proved in law

g

obsolete : sensible or serious material as distinguished from nonsense or drollery

h(1)

obsolete : reason, cause

(2)

: a source especially of feeling or emotion

i

: problem, difficulty

What's the matter?

2

a

: the substance of which a physical object is composed

b

: material substance that occupies space, has mass, and is composed predominantly of atoms consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons, that constitutes the observable universe, and that is interconvertible with energy

c

: a material substance of a particular kind or for a particular purpose

vegetable matter

d(1)

: material (such as feces or urine) discharged from the living body

(2)

: material discharged by suppuration : pus

3

a

: the indeterminate subject of reality

especially : the element in the universe that undergoes formation and alteration

b

: the formless substratum of all things which exists only potentially and upon which form acts to produce realities

4

: a more or less definite amount or quantity

cooks in a matter of minutes

5

: something written or printed

matter suitable for photocomposition

6

: mail entry 1

first-class matter

7

Christian Science : the illusion that the objects perceived by the physical senses have the reality of substance

matter

2 of 2

verb

mattered; mattering; matters

intransitive verb

1

: to form or discharge pus : suppurate

mattering wound

2

: to be of importance : signify

Phrases

as a matter of fact

: in fact : actually

for that matter

: so far as that is concerned

no matter

: without regard to : irrespective of

points in the same direction no matter how it is tilted

no matter what

: regardless of the costs, consequences, or results

wants to win, no matter what

the matter

: wrong

nothing's the matter with me

Synonyms

Noun

• content
• motif
• motive
• question
• subject
• theme
• topic

Verb

• count
• import
• mean
• signify
• weigh

Examples of matter in a Sentence

Noun

He has a few personal matters to deal with.

Disagreement is one thing, but accusations of lying are a different matter altogether!

Can matter and energy be changed into each other?

Verb

It may not matter to you, but it matters a lot to me!

“Why are you being so quiet?” “Does it matter?” “Of course it matters!”

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At a lunch on Monday with members of the press, President Joan Laporta spoke on the matter and attempted to put minds at rest. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

Hargis, 48, resigned from Wilson County Schools in 2017 while suspended on an unrelated matter. —Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Verb

Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans. —Josh Snyder, arkansasonline.com, 22 Dec. 2024

My literary dreams had yet to be realized, but that actually didn’t matter all that much. —Lee Chang-Dong, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English matere, from Anglo-French, from Latin materia matter, physical substance, from mater

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing matter

• a matter of
• a matter of conjecture
• a matter of debate
• a matter of interest
• a matter of life and death
• a matter of opinion
• a matter of principle
• a matter of record
• a matter of routine
• a matter of some concern
• a matter of taste
• a matter of time
• a matter of urgency/importance
• another thing/matter/story
• as a matter of course
• as a matter of form
• as a matter of policy
• as a matter of principle
• back matter
• bring the matter to someone's attention
• dark matter
• front matter
• gray matter
• laughing matter
• matter of course
• matter-of-fact
• matter of (individual) conscience
• matter of pride
• matter of taste
• mind over matter
• no easy/simple matter
• no joking matter
• no laughing matter
• no matter how you slice it
• no small matter
• printed matter
• subject matter
• the fact of the matter is
• the little/small matter
• the truth of the matter
• what does it matter
• white matter

Kids Definition

matter

1 of 2 noun

mat·​ter ˈmat-ər 

1

a

: a subject of interest or concern

a matter of dispute

b

: something to be dealt with : affair

personal matters to take care of

2

a

: the substance of which a physical object is composed

especially : the material substance that occupies space, has mass, and makes up the observable universe

b

: material substance of a particular kind or function

vegetable matter

c

: pus

3

: a more or less definite amount or quantity

cooks in a matter of minutes

4

: something written or printed

5

: mail entry 1 sense 1

first-class matter

matter

2 of 2 verb

: to be of importance : signify

Medical Definition

matter

noun

mat·​ter ˈmat-ər 

1

: material (as feces or urine) discharged or for discharge from the living body

an obstruction interfering with passage of matter from the intestine

2

: material discharged by suppuration : pus

Legal Definition

matter

noun

mat·​ter

1

: a subject of consideration, disagreement, or litigation: as

a

: a legal case, dispute, or issue

a matter within the court's jurisdiction

—often used in titles of legal proceedings

matter of Doe

see also in re

b

: one or more facts, claims, or rights examined, disputed, asserted, proven, or determined by legal process

— matter in controversy

: matter sense 1

called also matter in dispute

: the monetary amount involved in a case

— matter in issue

: a matter that is in dispute as part or all of a legal issue

— matter of fact

: a matter primarily involving proof or evidence rather than a question of law

— matter of form

: a matter concerning form or details often of a relatively inessential nature rather than substance

a petition invalid because of a matter of form

— matter of law

: a matter involving or consisting of the application of law

entitled to judgment as a matter of law

—National Law Journal

— matter of record

: a matter (as a fact) entered on the record of a court or other official body

the security interest was a matter of record

— matter of substance

: a matter concerning the merits of a case rather than form or relatively inessential details

2

: written, printed, or postal material

obscene matter