Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for source material. Search instead for colouring material.

source material

American  

noun

  1. original, authoritative, or basic materials utilized in research, as diaries or manuscripts.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“Unlike some of Nolan’s other films,” she wrote, “‘The Odyssey’ is not boring, thanks to the source material, which is impossible to mess up entirely.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 28, 2026

There is a timelessness to Mitchell’s work, thanks in large part to the ancient source material, the myths of Orpheus, Eurydice, Hades and Persephone.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 24, 2026

This hyperstylishness may put off viewers who demand complete faithfulness to the source material, but that discomfort is Fennell’s point.

From Salon Jun. 10, 2026

Short stories from Hemingway’s tales to “Brokeback Mountain” and 2017’s “Cat Person” have long been source material for movies.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 4, 2026

As source material, they mined the roster of National Research Fellows.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training