substantial

substantial
substantial, substantive
Substantial is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable and substantive with the stress on the first syllable or occasionally the second. Both words mean ‘having substance’, but substantial is the word in general use to denote people or things of size, importance, or value

• (Scotland Yard said a ‘substantial amount of firearms and explosives’ had been recovered from the house —East Anglian Daily Times, 1993)

whereas substantive refers more to what something consists of

• (This finding moves beyond rhetoric and provides substantive evidence that fathers have an important and measurable impact on the well-being of their adolescent children —Fathering, AmE 2003).

Substantial discussions are lengthy and wide-ranging ones, whereas substantive discussions deal with important topics. Substantive often occurs in technical contexts such as law and parliamentary procedure; for example, a substantive motion is one that deals specifically with a subject in due form.

Modern English usage. 2014.

Synonyms:
, , , , , / , , , / , / , , , , , , , / , , , , , , , / (pecuniarily),


Look at other dictionaries:

  • substantial — sub·stan·tial /səb stan chəl/ adj 1 a: of or relating to substance b: not illusory: having merit failed to raise a substantial constitutional claim c: having importance or significance: material …   Law dictionary

  • substantial — sub‧stan‧tial [səbˈstænʆl] adjective large enough in amount or number to be noticeable or to have an important effect: • The document requires substantial changes. • You could make substantial monthly savings on your mortgage. substantially… …   Financial and business terms

  • Substantial — Sub*stan tial, a. [F. substantiel, L. substantialis.] 1. Belonging to substance; actually existing; real; as, substantial life. Milton. [1913 Webster] If this atheist would have his chance to be real and substantial agent, he is more stupid than… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • substanţial — SUBSTANŢIÁL, Ă, substanţiali, e, adj. 1. Care ţine de substanţa (4) unui lucru; principal, esenţial; p. ext. important, însemnat, mare. 2. (Despre alimente; adesea adverbial) Bogat în substanţe hrănitoare; consistent. [pr.: ţi al] – Din fr.… …   Dicționar Român

  • Substantial — Nom Stanley Robinson Activité principale Rappeur Genre musical Rap Rap East Coast Années d activité Depuis 2001 Labels QN5 Music Site officiel …   Wikipédia en Français

  • substantial — [adj1] important, ample abundant, big, big deal*, bulky, consequential, considerable, durable, extraordinary, firm, generous, goodly, heavy, heavyweight, hefty, key, large, major league*, massive, material, meaningful, momentous, plentiful,… …   New thesaurus

  • substantial — [səb stan′shəl] adj. [ME substancial < ML substantialis < LL] 1. of or having substance 2. real; actual; true; not imaginary 3. strong; solid; firm; stout 4. considerable; ample; large 5. of considerable worth or value; important …   English World dictionary

  • substantial — (adj.) mid 14c., ample, sizeable, from O.Fr. substantiel (13c.), from L. substantialis having substance or reality, material, from substantia (see SUBSTANCE (Cf. substance)). Meaning existing, having real existence is from late 14c …   Etymology dictionary

  • substantial — *massive, massy, bulky, monumental Antonyms: airy, ethereal …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • substantial — ► ADJECTIVE 1) of considerable importance, size, or worth. 2) strongly built or made. 3) concerning the essentials of something. 4) real and tangible rather than imaginary. DERIVATIVES substantiality noun …   English terms dictionary

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