immaterial

[im-uh-teer-ee-uhl]

adjective

1. of no essential consequence; unimportant.

2. not pertinent; irrelevant.

3. not material; incorporeal; spiritual.

immaterial

/ ˌɪməˈtɪərɪəl /

adjective

1. of no real importance; inconsequential

2. not formed of matter; incorporeal; spiritual

Other Word Forms

• immaterially adverb
• immateriality noun
• immaterialness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of immaterial¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word immāteriālis. See im- ², material

Example Sentences

The fact that no one has stepped forward with a firsthand account of false accusation is immaterial because the em dash drama plays on existing anxieties.

From Salon

"I don't know whether additional ships will be needed to remove everything or not, but to my mind that's largely immaterial," he said.

From BBC

Local board acceptance is immaterial in California and normally handled as a point of information.

From Los Angeles Times

The play, about a fanciful tour guide of a dull and stately English country house who runs into conflict with a factually fastidious official at the historic property, was almost immaterial.

From Los Angeles Times

In court documents seen by BBC News, the lawyers asked for multiple amendments to Ms Mangroe's complaint, insisting certain paragraphs are "immaterial" and "scandalous".

From BBC

Related Words

• extraneous 
• inconsequential 
• meaningless 
• trivial 
• unimportant