immaterial

/ˌɪməˈtɪəriəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪməˈtɪriəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌi-mə-ˈtir-ē-əl/ (ame, mw)

immaterial — adjective

  • immaterialpositive
  • more immaterialcomparative
  • most immaterialsuperlative

1. having no bearing on the question being discussed — for example, when a meeting

1.形容詞C1
釋義

having no bearing on the question being discussed — for example, when a meeting decides which colour to paint a wall, the brand of paint is immaterial to the choice.

例句

The judge ruled that Ezra's earlier traffic tickets were immaterial to the assault case.

immaterial to + noun for legal relevance

Whether Lara took the bus or the train is immaterial; she still arrived late.

whether-clause subject + immaterial

同義詞
  • irrelevant

    Most common everyday equivalent; less formal than 'immaterial'.

  • inconsequential

    Stresses lack of effect or follow-on impact rather than lack of connection.

  • beside the point

    Informal idiom; signals the speaker is steering the discussion back on track.

反義詞
  • relevant

    Plain neutral opposite; works in any register.

  • material

    The direct legal/formal opposite (a 'material fact' carries weight in court).

文法句型

immaterial to + noun

immaterial whether/how/what + clause

用法筆記

Frequently followed by the preposition 'to' (immaterial to the case) or by a whether/how/what-clause. Common in legal, academic, and formal speech; in casual conversation, learners usually prefer 'doesn't matter' or 'irrelevant'.

常見錯誤

❌The colour is immaterial for the choice.
✅The colour is immaterial to the choice.
💡the standard preposition is 'to', not 'for'.
❌His feelings are immaterial me.
✅His feelings are immaterial to me.
💡never drop the preposition 'to' before the affected party.

2. existing only as an idea, soul, or spirit, with no body you can touch or weigh —

2.形容詞C2
釋義

existing only as an idea, soul, or spirit, with no body you can touch or weigh — for example, religious teachings about the soul, or philosophical talk about pure thought.

例句

Many religions teach that the soul is immaterial and survives the death of the body.

be immaterial for souls/spirits

Aylin wrote her thesis on whether numbers are immaterial objects or human inventions.

immaterial + abstract noun in philosophy

同義詞
  • incorporeal

    Even more formal; specifically suggests 'without a body', typical of theology.

  • intangible

    Broader: covers things you cannot touch, including emotions and value; less tied to spirits.

  • spiritual

    Used when the religious or non-physical dimension is the main point.

反義詞
  • physical

    Plain everyday opposite covering anything with a body.

  • corporeal

    Matches the formal register of 'incorporeal'; common in theology and philosophy.

文法句型

the immaterial + noun

be immaterial

用法筆記

Distinct from sense 1: this meaning is largely confined to philosophy, theology, and literary writing about souls, spirits, or pure ideas. If the topic is everyday objects, prefer 'invisible' or 'intangible' instead.

常見錯誤

❌The wind is immaterial because we cannot see it.
✅The wind is invisible because we cannot see it.
💡'immaterial' here means having no substance at all, not merely being hard to see.