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

That the statue survived at all is exceptional: in antiquity, bronze was a valuable raw material routinely melted down for weapons, coins or everyday objects.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Instead of releasing it into the atmosphere, it can be captured and turned into a valuable raw material.

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2026

"Rising inflation, higher raw material costs and the need for heavy marketing investment can make it difficult for them to survive, even when their sustainability credentials are strong."

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

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 • Mar. 11, 2026

With any luck, the territory would contain flint, jasper, or chalcedony, the raw material for spear points, meat scrapers, and other hunting tools.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann