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# immaterial

adjective (immaterial)

«immaterial» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Immaterial means not important or not relevant to what is being talked about. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/#m1)
2. (formal) Immaterial also means not made of matter, with no physical body, like a spirit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and in arguments, «that's immaterial» means «that doesn't matter here». In maths problems, some numbers are immaterial: they are given but you don't need them. In law, immaterial facts don't change the result. In religion and philosophy, the soul is described as immaterial.

### Examples

- Whether the car is red or blue is immaterial; it needs fixing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/#x1)
- The cost is immaterial if it saves a life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/#x2)
- In this problem, the colour of the bags is immaterial. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/#x3)
- Christians believe the soul is immaterial. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/#x4)
- Whether he meant to break it is immaterial; it is broken. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/#x5)
- Ghosts in stories are often immaterial and walk through walls. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/#x6)
- "If you really can cure, it is immaterial when you do it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/#x7)

### Note

Formal; everyday words are «not important» or «doesn't matter». «Im-» means not. Opposite: material (meaning relevant or physical).

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: The translator notes that others have turned the "Holy Wind" into an immaterial "Spirit". He says the word really means a wind. In the primary lessons: In everyday life and in arguments, «that's immaterial» means «that doesn't matter here». In maths problems, some numbers are immaterial: they are given but you don't need them. In law, immaterial facts don't change the result. In religion and philosophy, the soul is described as immaterial.

### Examples

- Nonetheless, English translators have usually shied away from the this-worldly symbolism of the ‘Holy Wind’, much preferring immaterial ‘Spirit’ either out of theological embarrassment or deference to tradition. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/immaterial/#x1)
- Perhaps capturing an intermediary concept between the immaterial divine imminence and the material wind is ‘wisp’, meaning both a small breeze and a phantom presence, but ‘Holy Wisp’ is a rather underwhelming expression. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/immaterial/#x2)

### Note

Formal; everyday words are «not important» or «doesn't matter». «Im-» means not. Opposite: material (meaning relevant or physical).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «immaterial» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/immaterial/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«immaterial» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/immaterial.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «immaterial» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/immaterial/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«immaterial» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/immaterial.html) on Mova free.