substance
n. C / Un. a physical material or type of matter that has specific qualities. It can also mean the most important part or the real meaning of what someone says.
n. a particular kind of matter with uniform properties; alternatively, the essential part or core meaning of a statement or argument.
The police found a strange white substance in the car.
While the speech was very long and entertaining, it lacked any real substance regarding policy changes.
The philosopher argued that while the appearance of an object may change over time, its underlying substance remains constant and identifiable.
Inherited from Middle English substance, from Old French substance, from Latin substantia (“substance, essence”), from substāns, present active participle of substō (“exist”, literally “stand under”), from sub + stō (“stand”). Displaced native Old English andweorc.
Uncountable when referring to the quality of having importance or solid truth; countable when referring to specific chemical or physical materials.