Words / B1

m-uh-TEERR-ee-uh-l/məˈtɪəriəl/

Material is cloth or stuff used to make things, or information for a lesson: reading material, building materials. Stuff is informal; fabric is specifically cloth. Material can also mean important (material evidence) in formal English. Materials (plural) often means equipment for a class. Immaterial means not important — a useful opposite in writing.

Meaning

Cloth or other stuff used to make things, or information for a lesson.

Examples

• “We need more material for the course.”
• “We bought material to make the curtains.”
• “The teacher provided extra material for revision.”

Good to know

reading / building material(s). Informal: stuff. Cloth: fabric. Formal opposite: immaterial.

Near in meaning

fabric

New