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Immaterial

//ˌɪ.məˈtɪə.ɹɪ.əl// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Having no matter or substance; incorporeal.

    "Some believe that because ghosts are immaterial, they can pass through walls."

  2. 2
    Of the nature of the soul or spirit; spiritual.

    "[T]here are ſome beings in the vvorld vvhich cannot depend upon matter or motion, i.e. that there are ſome ſpiritual and immaterial ſubstances or Beings […] If there be then ſuch things in the vvorld vvhich matter and motion cannot be the cauſes of, then there are certainly spiritual and immaterial Beings, and that I ſhall make appear both as to the minds of men, and to ſome extraordinary effects vvhich are produced in the vvorld."

  3. 3
    Of no importance; inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant. figuratively

    "He has also been good enough to recommend to me many tradesmen who are ready to supply these articles in any quantities; each of whom has been here already a dozen times, cap in hand, and vowing that it is quite immaterial when I pay—which is very kind of them; […]"

  4. 4
    Having or seeming to have very little substance; insubstantial, slight. figuratively, rare

    "No, vvhy art thou then exaſperate, thou idle, / immaterial ſkeine of ſleiue ſilke; thou greene ſacenet flap for a ſore eye, thou toſſell of a prodigalls purſe— […]"

  5. 5
    Especially of evidence; chiefly followed by to: not associated in any way that is important or useful to the context being discussed; irrelevant. figuratively

    "Objection, your Honour! The defendant’s criminal record is immaterial to this case."

Adjective
  1. 1
    not consisting of matter wordnet
  2. 2
    without material form or substance wordnet
  3. 3
    (often followed by ‘to’) lacking importance; not mattering one way or the other wordnet
  4. 4
    of no importance or relevance especially to a law case wordnet
  5. 5
    not pertinent to the matter under consideration wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    A being or entity having no matter or substance. countable, in-plural
  2. 2
    A thing which is abstract or intangible; (uncountable) chiefly preceded by the: things which are abstract or intangible considered collectively. countable, in-plural

    "Lodge immaterials in thy Head: aſcend unto inviſibles: fill thy Spirit vvith Spirituals, vvith the myſteries of Faith, the magnalities of Religion, and thy Life vvith the Honour of God; […]"

Etymology

Etymology 1

The adjective is derived from Late Middle English immaterial, inmateriall (“incorporeal; spiritual”), from Middle French immateriel (“not material”) (modern French immatériel), and from its etymon Medieval Latin immāteriālis (“not material”), from Latin im- (a variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘not’)) + māteriālis (“made of matter, material”) (from māteria (“matter, substance, material”) (from māter, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr, + ia) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship)). The English word is analysable as im- + material. The noun is derived from the adjective.

Etymology 2

The adjective is derived from Late Middle English immaterial, inmateriall (“incorporeal; spiritual”), from Middle French immateriel (“not material”) (modern French immatériel), and from its etymon Medieval Latin immāteriālis (“not material”), from Latin im- (a variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘not’)) + māteriālis (“made of matter, material”) (from māteria (“matter, substance, material”) (from māter, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr, + ia) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship)). The English word is analysable as im- + material. The noun is derived from the adjective.

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