materiality: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, academic, legal, professional (business/accounting)
Quick answer
What does “materiality” mean?
The quality or character of being material, consisting of matter.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or character of being material, consisting of matter; the quality of being physical rather than spiritual or abstract.
In business, accounting, and law: the principle that information is important enough to influence decisions or judgments; relevance or significance that could affect a user's decision.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. Slightly higher frequency in UK English in certain legal/accounting contexts due to historical precedent in common law.
Connotations
Neutral to formal in both varieties. In US accounting (FASB) and UK accounting (IAS/IFRS), 'materiality' is a fundamental auditing concept.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation; high frequency in specific professional/academic registers in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “materiality” in a Sentence
the materiality of [something]assess/determine/consider the materiality ofmateriality in relation tomateriality for [purpose/decision]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “materiality” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The materiality assessment is a key audit step.
- They focused on the most materiality risks.
American English
- A materiality threshold is set for the financial review.
- The report highlights materiality concerns for investors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the magnitude of an omission or misstatement that could influence economic decisions. E.g., 'The auditor evaluated the materiality of the error.'
Academic
Used in philosophy, critical theory, and law to discuss the nature of physical existence or the importance of facts. E.g., 'The materiality of the body is a central theme.'
Everyday
Rarely used. If used, it means 'physical presence' or 'importance'. E.g., 'He was struck by the sheer materiality of the ancient artifact.'
Technical
A precise threshold in auditing, law, and sustainability reporting determining what information must be disclosed.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “materiality”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “materiality”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “materiality”
- Using 'materiality' in casual conversation where 'importance' or 'physical presence' would suffice.
- Confusing 'materiality' (noun) with 'materially' (adverb). E.g., 'It affected the outcome materially' vs. 'We assessed its materiality'.
- Misspelling as 'materiality' (correct) vs. 'materiality' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word used almost exclusively in formal, academic, or professional (legal, accounting) contexts.
'Material' is primarily an adjective meaning 'physical' or 'significant'. 'Materiality' is the corresponding abstract noun describing the state or quality of being material or significant.
It is very rare and would sound overly formal. Use 'importance', 'significance', or 'physical presence' instead in everyday contexts.
It is a fundamental principle that guides what financial information must be disclosed. Immaterial (insignificant) information can be omitted to avoid overwhelming users with trivial details.
The quality or character of being material, consisting of matter.
Materiality is usually formal, academic, legal, professional (business/accounting) in register.
Materiality: 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.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'material' (the stuff things are made of) + '-ity' (a state or condition). It's the 'stuff-ness' or the 'importance' (if the 'stuff' is information).
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS WEIGHT / SIGNIFICANCE IS PHYSICAL SUBSTANCE (e.g., 'a material fact' carries weight).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'materiality' most precisely defined as a quantitative or qualitative threshold for decision-making?