What is immaterial? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of immaterial

immaterialadjective

phi vật chất

/ˌɪməˈtɪəriəl//ˌɪməˈtɪriəl/

Where does the word immaterial come from?

The term "immaterial" often used in philosophy and science, means not being made up of matter or substance that can be perceived by the senses. The root of this word can be traced back to the Late Latin "immaterialis", which was formed by combining the Latin prefix "in-" (meaning "not") with the word "materialis" (meaning "regarding matter"). This prefix "in-" in Latin is often used to negate or reverse the meaning of the word it prefixes. The Latin word "materialis" refers to something that is made of matter, or that has a physical or material existence. This combination of "in-" and "materialis" was used to emphasize the absence or opposite of this quality, resulting in the term "immaterialis". In Late Latin, this term "immaterialis" was more specifically used to describe things that exist only as a spiritual or intellectual entity, rather than having a tangible or physical form. This meaning has carried over into modern languages, where "immaterial" is used in the broader sense of meaning "intangible" or "non-physical". In this way, "immaterial" can describe concepts, ideas, and phenomena that are not perceived by the senses or cannot be explained by physical laws. In essence, the term "immaterial" is a contrast to "material" - things that we can perceive, touch, or measure through our physical senses.

Vocabulary summary immaterial

typeadjective

meaninginvisible, phi material

meaningunimportant, trivial

exampleimmaterial details: the little details

Example of vocabulary immaterialnamespace

meaning

not important in a particular situation

  • The cost is immaterial.
  • It is immaterial to me whether he stays or goes.
  • These facts are immaterial to the problem.
  • In a court of law, evidence that is immaterial to the case at hand should not be presented to the jury.
  • Debating whether the color of the carpet in the living room is immaterial to the decision to sell the house.
meaning

not having a physical form

  • an immaterial God
  • the immaterial mind/soul

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