materially
materially — adverb
1. regarding money, possessions, or physical circumstances — not emotions, thoughts
regarding money, possessions, or physical circumstances — not emotions, thoughts, or spiritual concerns
Alessia's family was materially better off after she found work at the local hospital.
collocation: materially better off
The scholarship supported Aarav materially throughout his four years at university.
collocation: support materially
Many retired people find themselves materially worse off than they had expected.
collocation: materially worse off
The grant improved the school materially with new desks, books, and science equipment.
Esme's grandparents lived simply but never struggled materially the way their neighbours did.
collocation: struggle materially
- materially better off
- materially worse off
- support materially
- struggle materially
- benefit materially
- financially
more common in everyday speech; narrower — focuses specifically on money rather than possessions or physical conditions
- economically
broader focus — relates to the economy of a household, region, or country rather than personal possessions
- spiritually
contrasts the physical/material domain with the spiritual domain
- emotionally
contrasts the material/financial domain with the emotional/psychological domain
2. in a way that is important enough to make a real difference or to have a noticea
in a way that is important enough to make a real difference or to have a noticeable effect on a situation
The new drug materially improved the health of patients who had the rare disease.
collocation: materially improve
Brian's opinion on the matter has not changed materially since the board meeting.
Rising energy costs have materially affected how people heat their homes in winter.
collocation: materially affect
The judge's ruling did not materially change the final outcome of the case.
collocation: materially change
What the report found differed materially from what the company had claimed in public.
collocation: differ materially from
- materially improve
- materially affect
- materially change
- materially alter
- differ materially from
- significantly
more common and slightly less formal; covers both positive and negative effects
- substantially
very close in meaning and register; stresses the size or extent of the change
- considerably
slightly less formal; emphasises 'a large amount' rather than 'importance'
- marginally
means 'to a very small degree' — the opposite of a noticeable change
- insignificantly
means 'in a way that does not matter or is too small to be noticed'
Usage Note
Common in formal, academic, and legal writing. The word often appears with verbs of change or comparison such as 'change', 'differ', 'affect', and 'improve'.