substance

noun

US /ˈsʌbstəns/

Word Forms

singular	substance
plural	substances

1
countable a particular type of liquid, solid, or gas
The wood is coated with a special substance that protects it from the sun.
a hazardous/harmful/radioactive substance:
Some workers had developed cancer after exposure to radioactive substances.
Synonyms and related words
General words for materials and substances
substance
material
powder
2
a drug that people can start to depend on, especially an illegal drug
Heroin is an addictive substance.
The campus is a substance-free environment.
Synonyms and related words
Illegal drugs and drugs sometimes taken illegally
acid
anabolic steroid
angel dust
See alsocontrolled substance
3
uncountable the quality of being important, real, or useful, or something that shows this quality
Her comments added substance to the debate.
The band is all glitz and no substance.
of substance:
The agency hasn’t accomplished anything of substance for years.
Synonyms and related words
Importance
importance
emphasis
priority
Synonyms and related words
The quality of being real and something that is real
the real world
real life
reality
4
uncountable the most important ideas or basic meaning of a discussion or a piece of writing
He refused to discuss the substance of the meetings.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of discussions
contention
focus
item
Synonyms and related words
General words for meaning
meaning
significance
usage
5
uncountable usually in negatives or questionsthe fact that something is based on accurate information
substance to:
There is no substance to his accusations.
give substance to something (=show that something is true):
Their appearance together gave substance to the rumors of their imminent marriage.
Synonyms and related words
The truth
truth
fact
actuality

phrases

a man/woman/person of substance

in substance

substance ​‌‌‌

substance ​‌‌‌

substance

substance