immaterial

[im-uh-teer-ee-uh l]

See more synonyms for immaterial on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of no essential consequence; unimportant.
not pertinent; irrelevant.
not material; incorporeal; spiritual.

Origin of immaterial

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

Related formsim·ma·te·ri·al·ly, adverbim·ma·te·ri·al·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for immaterial

Contemporary Examples

It is immaterial if the infidel is a combatant or a civilian.
The CIA’s Wrong: Arming Rebels Works
Christopher Dickey
October 19, 2014
The lack of evidence for HGH as an effective performance enhancer is just as immaterial as its illegality.
Major League Baseball’s Planned Suspensions Are Already a Bust
David Roth
June 5, 2013
Whether blame is assigned to the failed follower or the failed leader is immaterial.
The Truth About Women in Combat
David Frum
March 1, 2013
So as long as a lethal strike passes muster in constitutional terms, the location of the target is immaterial.
White Paper Suggests U.S. Could Launch Drones Into U.S. Cities
Kal Raustiala
February 17, 2013
“Source” ends up feeling like an essentially virtual, Platonic, immaterial object.
Vanishingly Massive
Blake Gopnik
October 22, 2012

Historical Examples

A man is at once material and immaterial, mortal and immortal.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II
Francis Augustus Cox
That he had been given an opportunity to sin was immaterial.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens
I believe now that you are misinformed as to the facts, but that is immaterial.
Cap'n Warren's Wards
Joseph C. Lincoln
What he should do when he arrived and found them there was immaterial; he must get there, that was all.
The Woman-Haters
Joseph C. Lincoln
Voices also ascended, wonderful in their distinct and immaterial clearness.
Lord Jim
Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for immaterial

immaterial

adjective

of no real importance; inconsequential
not formed of matter; incorporeal; spiritual

Derived Formsimmateriality or immaterialness, nounimmaterially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for immaterial

adj.

late 14c., "spiritual, incorporeal," from Medieval Latin immaterialis "not consisting of matter, spiritual," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + Late Latin materialis (see material). Secondary sense of "unimportant" is first recorded 1690s from material in its 16c. sense of "important." Related: Immaterially.

immaterial

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Related Words

Examples from the Web for immaterial

Contemporary Examples

It is immaterial if the infidel is a combatant or a civilian.

The lack of evidence for HGH as an effective performance enhancer is just as immaterial as its illegality.

Whether blame is assigned to the failed follower or the failed leader is immaterial.

So as long as a lethal strike passes muster in constitutional terms, the location of the target is immaterial.

“Source” ends up feeling like an essentially virtual, Platonic, immaterial object.

Historical Examples

A man is at once material and immaterial, mortal and immortal.

That he had been given an opportunity to sin was immaterial.

I believe now that you are misinformed as to the facts, but that is immaterial.

What he should do when he arrived and found them there was immaterial; he must get there, that was all.

Voices also ascended, wonderful in their distinct and immaterial clearness.

immaterial

Word Origin and History for immaterial

adj.

Origin of immaterial