maˌteriality: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical (Business/Law)
Quick answer
What does “maˌteriality” mean?
The quality or character of being material.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or character of being material; having physical substance; the quality of being relevant or significant.
In philosophy: the doctrine that nothing exists except matter. In law/auditing/accounting: a principle that states information is relevant if its omission or misstatement could influence the economic decisions of users. The state of being material or physical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent. The professional (audit/law) usage is dominant in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral to formal. In professional contexts, it's a precise technical term without strong positive/negative connotations.
Frequency
More frequent in both UK and US English within legal, financial, and academic (critical theory) contexts. Rare in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “maˌteriality” in a Sentence
the materiality of [something]determine/assess the materiality ofa question/issue of materialitydue to its materialityVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In auditing, determining the materiality of a financial misstatement is crucial for the audit opinion.
Academic
The philosopher explored the materiality of the body in postmodern thought.
Everyday
(Very rare) The materiality of the old book—its weight, smell, and texture—made it special.
Technical
The auditor set the planning materiality at 5% of pre-tax income.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “maˌteriality”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “maˌteriality”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “maˌteriality”
- Using 'materiality' in everyday contexts where 'importance' or 'physical nature' would be more natural.
- Confusing 'materiality' (noun) with 'materially' (adverb).
- Misspelling as 'materialy' or 'materialty'.
- Incorrect stress: /ˈmeɪ.tɪə.ri.æl.ɪ.ti/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word used predominantly in professional (law, accounting, audit) and academic (philosophy, critical theory) contexts. It is rarely used in everyday conversation.
'Importance' is a general term. 'Materiality' is a specific, formal term often used in law and finance to mean 'relevance or significance sufficient to influence a decision or judgment.' It implies a threshold of consequence.
Yes, in philosophical or artistic contexts, it can mean 'the quality of being physical or tangible' (e.g., the materiality of the body). However, in modern professional usage, the 'significance' meaning is far more common.
In the 'significance' sense, the opposite is 'immateriality' or 'irrelevance'. In the 'physical substance' sense, opposites include 'immateriality', 'spirituality', or 'intangibility'.
The quality or character of being material.
Maˌteriality is usually formal, academic, technical (business/law) in register.
Maˌteriality: in British English it is pronounced /məˌtɪə.riˈæl.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˌtɪr.iˈæl.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A matter of materiality”
- “Cross the threshold of materiality”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MATERIAL + ITY. It's the 'ITY' (quality) of being MATERIAL (physical or significant). If it's MATERIAL, it has MATERIALITY.
Conceptual Metaphor
SIGNIFICANCE IS WEIGHT ('a weighty matter', 'carries no weight'). PHYSICAL EXISTENCE IS SOLIDITY/GROUNDEDNESS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'materiality' MOST specifically and technically defined?