What does materiality mean?
Materiality means the condition or quality of being materially real, important, or relevant. In its most common practical use, it describes how significant something is: a proposal, risk, finding, or piece of evidence has materiality when it is substantial enough to affect decisions or outcomes. The word can also mean the quality of being composed of matter, especially when philosophy, theology, or art examines the relationship between physical existence and abstract or spiritual ideas. A narrower supernatural sense refers to a spirit or other entity becoming manifest in a physical form. Although related to the more familiar word material, materiality is generally more specialized and intellectually focused. It is particularly useful in legal, financial, philosophical, theological, and academic writing whenever the question is not simply what something is made of, but whether its physical or practical significance is substantial enough to matter.
The quality or degree of being material, especially in the sense of practical significance or relevance.
"The materiality of the threat prompted the organization to reconsider its security measures."
Common in legal, financial, academic, and formal technical writing.
The quality of being composed of or perceptible as physical matter.
"The philosopher contrasted the immateriality of an idea with the materiality of the body."
This sense is especially common in philosophical, theological, artistic, and critical discussion.
A physical manifestation of a spiritual or supernatural entity.
"The medium described the materiality that appeared during the séance."
A specialist or historically oriented sense, especially associated with accounts of spiritualism and supernatural phenomena.
The plural is rare and is used mainly when referring to different instances of physical existence or philosophical categories.
"The scholar compared the materialities of ancient sculpture and digital imagery."
In philosophy, materiality asks a deceptively simple question: what counts as real, and what merely appears to be?
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does materiality come from?
Materiality was formed in the 17th century from material plus the suffix -ity, following the earlier development of material in the 16th century. Both words ultimately derive from Latin materialis, meaning “of matter,” from materia, “matter” or “substance.” The same Latin root also underlies matter and, through it, words such as maternal.
Related word forms
How materiality is actually used
The sense meaning significance or relevance is standard in general, legal, financial, and academic contexts. The senses concerning physical composition are more common in philosophy, theology, and the arts, while supernatural manifestation is chiefly found in specialist or historical discourse.