substance

/'sʌbstəns/
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substance

A scientist carefully labels a clear beaker containing a blue substance.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A particular kind of matter with uniform properties: A material or physical stuff that has specific characteristics.
    • The most important part or essence of something: The central, fundamental, or most vital meaning, idea, or part of a concept, argument, or story.
    • The quality of being important, valid, or significant: The state of having solidity, weight, or worth.
    • Material possessions or wealth: Considerable property or financial resources.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • Water is a transparent substance essential for life.
    • The substance of her argument was that education is a fundamental right.
    • His accusations were dismissed for lacking substance.
    • He invested his substance in the new business venture.
Advanced Usage
  • In substance: Regarding the most important parts; essentially.
    • The two proposals are different in detail but similar in substance.
  • A man/woman of substance: A person of considerable wealth, importance, or strong character.
    • She was respected in the community as a woman of substance.
Variants and Related Words
  • Substantial (adj): Of considerable importance, size, or worth; solidly built.
    • They made a substantial contribution to the project.
  • Substantiate (verb): To provide evidence to support or prove the truth of.
    • The lawyer needed to substantiate her claims with documents.
Synonyms
  • Matter: Physical substance or material.
  • Essence: The intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something.
  • Gist: The main or essential part of a matter.
  • Wealth: An abundance of valuable possessions or money.
Related Phrases
  • To lose the substance for the shadow: To give up something of real value for something illusory or worthless.
    • By chasing quick profits, he lost the substance for the shadow and ruined his company.
Related Idioms
  • The heart and soul (of something): The most important or essential part.
    • Community volunteers are the heart and soul of this festival. (This idiom relates to the "essence" meaning of substance.)
substance

A scientist carefully labels a clear beaker containing a blue substance.

Noun
  1. a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties
    • shigella is one of the most toxic substances known to man
  2. what a communication that is about something is about
  3. considerable capital (wealth or income)
    • he is a man of means
  4. material of a particular kind or constitution
    • the immune response recognizes invading substances
  5. the idea that is intended
    • What is the meaning of this proverb?
  6. the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
    • the gist of the prosecutor's argument
    • the heart and soul of the Republican Party
    • the nub of the story
  7. the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
    • DNA is the substance of our genes