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 problem for data geeks like Savouri, however, and for investors, is the increasingly unreliable raw material that governments are providing them.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Building product companies have faced significant challenges recently as tariffs have driven up raw material prices and fewer consumers are upgrading their homes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

"If the main raw material is disturbed, the whole industry is disturbed," Dulera told AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Fuel and raw material shortages, chronic underinvestment and nationalisations have hollowed out the local economy.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

You have to control the raw material, she said, or they’ll make you into a clown.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee