# matter

/ˈmætɝ/ (US) · /mˈætɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/matter
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a situation or subject

noun · CEFR A2

a situation, subject, or problem that you are discussing or dealing with.

For teachers: a subject under consideration or a situation that is problematic or of concern.

- I will discuss this matter with my manager during our meeting tomorrow.
- The committee spent several hours debating the matter of budget allocations before reaching a final consensus.

### 2. physical substance

noun · CEFR B2

the physical stuff that everything in the universe is made of.

For teachers: physical substance in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; in physics, that which occupies space and possesses rest mass.

- The universe is made up of matter and energy.
- Dark matter remains one of the most significant mysteries in modern astrophysics because it does not emit or reflect light.

### 3. legal case

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a specific legal case or piece of work handled by a lawyer.

For teachers: a specific legal case or transaction handled by a legal professional on behalf of a client.

- The lawyer is currently working on several different legal matters.
- The firm was disqualified from the matter due to a potential conflict of interest involving a former partner.

### 4. approximate amount

noun · CEFR B1

a small or specific amount of something, like time or distance.

For teachers: an approximate amount or quantity, typically used with 'of' to indicate a small scale.

- The whole repair was finished in a matter of minutes.
- It is simply a matter of time before the market recovers from the recent economic downturn.

## Examples

- I need to talk to you about a private matter.
- The manager promised to look into the matter and find a solution by the end of the week.
- While the legal team focused on the procedural matter of the filing deadline, the scientists were more concerned with the properties of the organic matter found at the site.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.