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

The Middle East also produces nearly a fifth of the world’s liquid natural gas, which is an essential raw material used to produce nitrogen fertilizer.

From MarketWatch

On the sixth day of the Middle East conflict, shipping traffic has largely ground to a halt as security risks and soaring insurance costs deter vessels, disrupting the flow of raw materials and metals.

From The Wall Street Journal

Higher costs for energy and raw materials will be exacerbated by shipping disruption.

From Barron's

Inflation is largely flowing through to customers from higher costs that companies themselves are facing: Businesses talked about higher costs for insurance, energy, and raw materials, including expenses from tariffs.

From The Wall Street Journal

The gap between tech companies’ financial commitments and their disclosure is widening as the companies pursue power supplies, the raw material behind artificial intelligence.

From The Wall Street Journal