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

For example, travelling from Carmarthen to Cardiff, there is a substantial difference in the kind of prices you have to pay, even outside peak times.

From BBC

There has been substantial investment in the academy and the women's team, while hundreds of millions have been pumped into to the club to help with day-to-day running costs.

From BBC

Her decision “threw the future of these Venezuelan citizens into disarray and exposed them to substantial risk of wrongful removal, separation from their families and loss of employment,” the panel wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

He described it as "a mass of material that is so totally reconceived and rewritten that there is no longer any substantial similarity between my lyrics and the 1980 Paris model".

From BBC

"Greed can be a powerful motive, and I consider there was substantial greed here," said Mr Justice Baker.

From BBC

Related Words

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