👻 Without substance 🙅 Unimportant

matterless

1 9.9

A thing that has no physical form and cannot be touched

adjective
/ˈmætərˌləs/

: inmaterial

In the world of physics, a matterless vacuum is often discussed as a space devoid of any physical material.

Examples

Philosophers often ponder the concept of a matterless existence, where reality is not tied to physical objects.
Some theories suggest that light and energy can exist in a matterless state, highlighting the dual nature of existence.
In quantum spacetime, even the matterless vacuum has a structure that affects motion.

Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

immaterial

vsmatterless

4 7.4

Not physical and cannot be touched

is broader, covering any lack of material or physical form

nonphysical

vsmatterless

1 7.0

Not having a body you can touch or see

is the broader notion of lacking material existence beyond measurability

vacuous

vsmatterless

1 7.9

Empty space with nothing inside

is about lacking physical substance itself rather than only being empty inside

bodyless

vsmatterless

1 8.2

Not having any physical shape you can touch, like a voice or shadow

is the general lack of material substance, not only absence of a body

nonmaterial

vsmatterless

1 7.7

Has no physical form and is about ideas or feelings

is the equivalent adjective used more widely across contexts

unphysical

vsmatterless

1 9.1

About the mind or spirit rather than the body

is about lacking physical substance itself rather than only being unrelated to the physical

Antonyms

material

152 3.5

Relating to physical things or possessions, not spiritual

substantial

22 5.0

About the main, basic part of something

How Physical

tangible

2 3.9

material

152 3.5

insubstantial

9 6.8

matterless

1 9.9

Surface Forms

matterless positive

Morphology

matterless = matter (transparent) = matter + less

Meaning is directly derived from 'matter' as 'physical substance' + '-less' meaning 'without physical substance', which learners can readily infer.

Etymology

Matterless is built from matter and -less ('without'), so it literally means 'without physical stuff'. That's why we can call a ghost or a soul matterless when it has no material form.