Definitions for substance
ˈsʌb stənssub·stance

Princeton's WordNet(3.41 / 17 votes)Rate this definition:

1. substance(noun)

   the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists

   "DNA is the substance of our genes"

2. kernel, substance, core, center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty(noun)

   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"

3. meaning, substance(noun)

   the idea that is intended

   "What is the meaning of this proverb?"

4. substance(noun)

   material of a particular kind or constitution

   "the immune response recognizes invading substances"

5. means, substance(noun)

   considerable capital (wealth or income)

   "he is a man of means"

6. message, content, subject matter, substance(noun)

   what a communication that is about something is about

7. substance(noun)

   a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties

   "shigella is one of the most toxic substances known to man"

Wiktionary(3.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. substance(Noun)

   Physical matter; material.

   Etymology: From substance, from substantia, from substans, present active participle of substo, from sub + sto.

2. substance(Noun)

   The essential part of anything; the most vital part.

   Etymology: From substance, from substantia, from substans, present active participle of substo, from sub + sto.

3. substance(Noun)

   Considerable wealth or resources.

   A man of substance.

   Etymology: From substance, from substantia, from substans, present active participle of substo, from sub + sto.

4. substance(Noun)

   Drugs

   substance abuse

   Etymology: From substance, from substantia, from substans, present active participle of substo, from sub + sto.

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Substance(noun)

   that which underlies all outward manifestations; substratum; the permanent subject or cause of phenomena, whether material or spiritual; that in which properties inhere; that which is real, in distinction from that which is apparent; the abiding part of any existence, in distinction from any accident; that which constitutes anything what it is; real or existing essence

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. substantia, fr. substare to be under or present, to stand firm; sub under + stare to stand. See Stand.]

2. Substance(noun)

   the most important element in any existence; the characteristic and essential components of anything; the main part; essential import; purport

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. substantia, fr. substare to be under or present, to stand firm; sub under + stare to stand. See Stand.]

3. Substance(noun)

   body; matter; material of which a thing is made; hence, substantiality; solidity; firmness; as, the substance of which a garment is made; some textile fabrics have little substance

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. substantia, fr. substare to be under or present, to stand firm; sub under + stare to stand. See Stand.]

4. Substance(noun)

   material possessions; estate; property; resources

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. substantia, fr. substare to be under or present, to stand firm; sub under + stare to stand. See Stand.]

5. Substance(noun)

   same as Hypostasis, 2

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. substantia, fr. substare to be under or present, to stand firm; sub under + stare to stand. See Stand.]

6. Substance(verb)

   to furnish or endow with substance; to supply property to; to make rich

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. substantia, fr. substare to be under or present, to stand firm; sub under + stare to stand. See Stand.]

Freebase(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Substance

   Substance is a 1987 compilation album by New Order, consisting of all of the band's singles at that point in their 12-inch versions, together with their respective B-side tracks. The then newly-released non-album single "True Faith" is also featured, along with its B-side "1963". The collection was released on vinyl, double CD, double cassette and Digital Audio Tape.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Substance

   sub′stans, n. that in which qualities or attributes exist, the existence to which qualities belong: that which constitutes anything what it is: the essential part: body: matter: property: foundation, ground, confidence. [L. substantia—substāre, to stand under—sub, under, stāre, to stand.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'substance' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4155

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'substance' in Nouns Frequency: #1238

How to pronounce substance?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say substance in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of substance in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of substance in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of substance in a Sentence

1. Rudy Giuliani:

   The judge, in some substance, said this is a witch hunt with a tremendous amount of government misconduct attached to it.

2. Jeff Schuster:

   Incentives were strong for the Black Friday weekend but I think it was more of the messaging than substance. Still, it looks like consumers took the deals.

3. Bob Brown:

   We’re interested in trying to silence the mutant gene, so it can’t even make the protein to make the toxic substance.

4. Chuck Schumer:

   The summit was more show than substance, what the Texans call' all cattle, no hat,' in past agreements with North Korea, the United States won far stronger language on denuclearization, and we won specific measures to ensure that North Korea was taking steps in that direction.

5. Brendan Buck:

   They're going to stick with the process arguments for as long as possible because most members still can't stomach a defense of the substance, there is a real sense of inevitability to the impeachment in the White House, and so the focus is on shoring up the base to minimize any House Republican losses in the Senate.

Images & Illustrations of substance

Popularity rank by frequency of use