raw material

American  

noun

1. material before being processed or manufactured into a final form.

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raw material British  

noun

1. material on which a particular manufacturing process is carried out

2. a person or thing regarded as suitable for some particular purpose

   raw material for the army

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Etymology

Origin of raw material

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Continental CON 1.86%increase; green up pointing triangle reported a drop in sales for the first quarter and said that there would be a delayed effect from recent changes in raw material prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

It helps, I’ve found, to think about it less as “leftovers” and more as raw material.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

The closure, which began after the United States and Israel launched strikes on February 28, has also affected raw material costs and disrupted global shipping.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Another social media user has reported that the textile company where their sister-in-law worked has fired 600 out of their 650 personnel, as they cannot import raw material from Australia anymore.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

I saw the gang members not as rivals but as raw material to be converted.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela