What does "materially" mean?

1. (significantly) to a large or important degree that changes the situation. 2. (physically) in a way that relates to physical things you can touch, rather than ideas.

materially — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01significantly

C1 · Advanced Formal · Academic

adv. to a large or important degree that changes the situation.

adv. to a significant or substantial extent; used to indicate that a change is large enough to be important.

“The new evidence did not materially change the outcome of the trial.”

“The board concluded that the proposed merger would not materially affect the company's long-term financial stability.”

Usage

Commonly used in negative constructions like 'not materially different' or 'not materially affected'.

Synonyms

significantly substantially considerably

Antonyms

insignificantlyslightly

02physically

C2 · Proficiency Formal · Technical

adv. in a way that relates to physical things you can touch, rather than ideas.

adv. in a material manner; with respect to physical substance or tangible characteristics.

“The two products are materially identical, even if the packaging looks different.”

“Although the two substances appear similar to the naked eye, they are materially distinct at a molecular level.”

Synonyms

physicallytangibly

Antonyms

spiritually abstractly

“When a coroner ruled this month that the Treasury “materially contributed” to Chloe Moffat’s death , her parents breathed out in bittersweet relief.”

The Guardian 22 Aug 2026

“And so it is worth wondering whether anything has materially changed here, beyond the fleeting opportunity for ambitious footballing executives to claim the keys to Infantino’s empire.”

The Guardian 5 Aug 2026