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materiell
material
Related to possessions, money, and physical goods, as opposed to intellectual, emotional, or spiritual values.
example
Er legte nie viel Wert auf materiellen Reichtum.
He never placed much value on material wealth.
materiell
material
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Meanings
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Usage tips
False friend
Careful: 'materiell' (material) does not mean 'important' or 'relevant' in the way the English word 'material' can, for example in 'material witness'. In German, 'materiell' always refers to matter, possessions, or money.
EXAMPLE
Für ihn sind Freundschaften wichtiger als materieller Erfolg.
For him, friendships are more important than material success.
Word family
The adjective 'materiell' (material) is derived from the noun 'die Materie' (matter), which means 'material' or 'substance'. So it describes things that have a physical substance and are tangible.
EXAMPLE
Die Wissenschaft untersucht die Eigenschaften von Materie.
Science studies the properties of matter.
Fixed expression
A very common and important combination is 'materieller Schaden' (material damage). This expression describes only damage to objects and property, as opposed to personal injury.
EXAMPLE
Der Einbrecher verursachte einen hohen materiellen Schaden.
The burglar caused a large amount of material damage.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'related to possessions', 'materiell' (material) is often combined with nouns such as 'Werte' (values), 'Reichtum' (wealth), 'Sicherheit' (security), or 'Vorteile' (advantages). It is often contrasted with 'ideell' (ideal/non-material) or 'geistig' (intellectual/spiritual).
EXAMPLE
Manche Menschen streben vor allem nach materieller Sicherheit.
Some people strive above all for material security.
Register: technical language
The meaning 'concerning the content' is used almost exclusively in legal technical language. There, 'materiell' (substantive) forms the opposite of 'formell' (formal, concerning the procedure).
EXAMPLE
Das Gericht prüft zuerst die formellen, dann die materiellen Aspekte des Falls.
The court first examines the formal aspects of the case, then the substantive ones.
Compare with
materiell vs wirtschaftlich
economic / economical
'wirtschaftlich' and 'materiell' can both be connected with money and possessions. 'wirtschaftlich' is used when it is about the economy, costs, profit, or the sensible use of money. 'materiell' is more about possessions, money, or things, as opposed to feelings, ideas, or intellectual values. It can also refer very concretely to physical or material damage to objects. The words can be confused when speaking generally about money. When it is about profitability or costs, 'wirtschaftlich' fits. When it is about possessions, things, or non-emotional support, 'materiell' fits.
materiell
Nach dem Brand bekam die Familie materielle Hilfe von den Nachbarn.
After the fire, the family received material support from their neighbors.
wirtschaftlich
Für das kleine Geschäft ist diese Lösung wirtschaftlich sinnvoll.
For the small business, this solution makes economic sense.
In real life
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