adjective
immaterial
im-uh-TEER-ee-ul/ˌɪməˈtɪriəl/
Not relevant or important to the matter at hand.
An applicant's shirt color is immaterial to the team's assessment of job skills.
Etymology
Material developed from 'belonging to matter' to 'pertaining to the matter at hand,' hence 'important or relevant.' Immaterial negates that latter sense: it does not affect the issue being considered.
In context
Microsoft is uh presenting all their information in the millions. So, a $5,000 error is immaterial to the Microsoft financial statement user.
More examples
- Whether you pay by cash or card is immaterial.
- The judge rules that the witness's age is immaterial.
- That small error is immaterial to the overall result.
Forms
immaterial
Similar words
- irrelevant
- Emphasizes lack of connection rather than lack of importance.
- inconsequential
- Emphasizes having little effect, even when related to the matter.
- unimportant
- Means lacking importance generally, not necessarily within a specific discussion.