substantial

[suhb-stan-shuhl]

adjective

1. of ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc..

   a substantial sum of money.

2. of a corporeal or material nature; tangible; real.

   Antonyms: ethereal, immaterial

3. of solid character or quality; firm, stout, or strong.

   a substantial physique.

   Synonyms: sturdy, stable

4. basic or essential; fundamental.

   two stories in substantial agreement.

5. wealthy or influential.

   one of the substantial men of the town.

6. of real worth, value, or effect.

   substantial reasons.

   Synonyms: weighty, important, consequential, significant

7. relating to the substance, matter, or material of a thing.

8. of or relating to the essence of a thing.

   the substantial parts of the ruling.

9. existing as or being a substance; having independent existence.

   a substantial being.

10. Philosophy.,  relating to or of the nature of substance or reality rather than an accident or attribute.

noun

1. something substantial.

substantial

/ səbˌstænʃɪˈælɪtɪ, səbˈstænʃəl /

adjective

1. of a considerable size or value

   substantial funds

2. worthwhile; important

   a substantial reform

3. having wealth or importance

4. (of food or a meal) sufficient and nourishing

5. solid or strong in construction, quality, or character

   a substantial door

6. real; actual; true

   the evidence is substantial

7. of or relating to the basic or fundamental substance or aspects of a thing

8. philosophy of or relating to substance rather than to attributes, accidents, or modifications

Other Word Forms

• substantiality noun
• substantialness noun
• substantially adverb
• nonsubstantial adjective
• nonsubstantialness noun
• nonsubstantiality noun
• presubstantial adjective
• supersubstantial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of substantial¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English substancial, from Late Latin substantiālis, equivalent to Latin substanti(a) substance + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Belgian officials see substantial risk to the plan.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Tens of thousands of troops and substantial air and naval assets have been deployed to the region, collectively forming the largest US military presence in and around Latin America in decades.

Read more on BBC

Profit growth was driven by the group’s property-and-casualty reinsurance business, for which low natural-catastrophe losses provided a substantial tailwind, Swiss Re said.

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The justice department cited "substantial evidence" that California legislature created a new map in which Latino demographics and racial considerations were predominant.

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“If we don’t enable defenders to have a very substantial permanent advantage, I’m concerned that we maybe lose this race.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• big 
• consequential 
• considerable 
• extraordinary 
• generous 
• hefty 
• large 
• massive 
• meaningful 
• serious 
• significant 
• sizable 
• solid 
• steady 
• strong 
• valuable 
• vast