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 industry source told AFP that the need to import raw materials, the high energy costs and limited infrastructure mean the country cannot be entirely self-sufficient in medicine production.

From Barron's

The role of universities and transport investment is also critical, but not every town and city in the UK has the same raw materials, for example in terms of sheer number of young graduates.

From BBC

A Danish autonomous territory, Greenland gained control over its raw materials and minerals in 2009.

From Barron's

Its presence in asteroids and comets supports the idea that some of the raw materials for life were created in space and later delivered to Earth.

From Science Daily

Expansion, takeovers and growth in the sector meant Ratcliffe created the company whose chemicals and raw materials go into everything from packaging for toiletries, medicines and food, to mobile phones and furniture.

From BBC