Origin: Latin suffix -al
Substantial has 8 different meanings across 1 category:
Anything having substance; an essential part.
"The committee agreed that funding for arts education is a substantial component of our overall school budget strategy."
In plain English: A substantial noun is an amount of something that is large enough to be important or make a real difference.
"The substantial was missing from the dining table, leaving just an empty spot where the meal had been."
of or relating to the real nature or essential elements of something
"a substantial argument"
having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary
"the substantial world"
"a mere dream, neither substantial nor practical"
"The wind was violent and felt substantial enough to lean against"
providing abundant nourishment
"a hearty meal"
"good solid food"
"ate a substantial breakfast"
"four square meals a day"
of good quality and condition; solidly built
"a solid foundation"
"several substantial timber buildings"
Having a substance; actually existing.
"After weeks of speculation, the company announced that its rumored new headquarters was a substantial building already under construction."
In plain English: Substantial means large enough to be important or make a real difference.
"The project required a substantial amount of money to complete."
Usage: Use substantial to describe something large in size, amount, or importance rather than just physically solid. It is often confused with significant when emphasizing weight versus impact, but both work well for describing major contributions or quantities.
The word substantial entered English through the Middle English form substancial, which was borrowed from Old French. It ultimately traces back to the Latin substantiālis.