Ask Difference

Mater vs. Matter — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 6, 2023
"Mater" is a Latin term meaning "mother," while "matter" refers to a physical substance or material in English. Conversely, "matter" denotes the substance of which physical objects are composed, and "mater" is an archaic or formal term for mother.
Mater vs. Matter — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Mater and Matter

ADVERTISEMENT

Key Differences

Mater is a Latin term that translates to "mother" in English. It often carries a formal or archaic tone and is rarely used in everyday language. Matter, on the other hand, refers to physical substances—anything that has mass and occupies space. It is a common term in science and everyday usage.
In classical education, mater might refer to a school or university that one has attended, derived from the phrase "alma mater." In contrast, matter is used in various contexts, from legal (subject matter) to philosophical (matter of concern).
Mater can also be seen in genealogy or historical contexts when referring to matriarchal figures or ancestries. In contrast, matter is a fundamental concept in physics, representing all forms of material existence.
While mater resonates with familial and academic sentiment, matter is a staple in discussions ranging from physics to everyday concerns about what is important — what matters.
Mater might also be used as a title in a religious context, as in "Mater Dei" (Mother of God), while matter is inherently secular, grounded in the physical and empirical world.
ADVERTISEMENT

Comparison Chart

Etymology

Latin for "mother."
Latin for "substance," "subject," etc.

Usage

Formal, archaic, specific contexts.
Broad, common in science and daily use.

Common Associations

Motherhood, schools, historical titles.
Physics, material existence, importance.

Contextual Application

Familial, educational, religious.
Physical, legal, philosophical, practical.

Grammatical Usage

Noun (proper noun in some contexts).
Noun (can be used abstractly).

Compare with Definitions

Mater

Used in British English as a colloquial or affectionate term for one's mother.
He went home for the weekend to visit his mater.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass.
Scientists study the properties of matter.

Mater

A term used for a school or university, typically one's own.
He donated generously to his alma mater.

Matter

A situation or set of conditions.
The matter at hand requires immediate attention.

Mater

A formal or affectionate term for mother.
In her will, she left everything to her beloved mater.

Matter

Printed material, as opposed to illustrations or blank space.
The book's matter was both engaging and informative.

Mater

In religious contexts, it can refer to the Virgin Mary or mother church.
The cathedral was named Mater Dei.

Matter

In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately composed of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic particles, and in everyday as well as scientific usage, "matter" generally includes atoms and anything made up of them, and any particles (or combination of particles) that act as if they have both rest mass and volume.

Mater

In historical or genealogical contexts, a reference to a female ancestor.
The family tree was traced back to the founding mater.

Matter

Physical substance in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses rest mass, especially as distinct from energy
The structure and properties of matter

Mater

Mother
The mater has kept on the house in London

Matter

A subject or situation under consideration
Financial matters
A great deal of work was done on this matter

Mater

Mother.

Matter

The reason for distress or a problem
What's the matter?

Mater

Mother.

Matter

The substance or content of a text as distinct from its style or form.

Mater

(anatomy) A meninx; the dura mater, arachnoid mater, or pia mater of the brain.

Matter

Be important or significant
It doesn't matter what the guests wear
What did it matter to them?

Mater

(biology) Someone or something that mates.

Matter

(of a wound) secrete or discharge pus.

Mater

See Alma mater, Dura mater, and Pia mater.

Matter

That which occupies space and has mass; physical substance.

Mater

Informal terms for a mother

Matter

A type of such substance
Organic matter.

Matter

Discharge or waste, such as pus or feces, from a living organism.

Matter

(Philosophy) In Aristotelian and Scholastic use, that which is in itself undifferentiated and formless and which, as the subject of change and development, receives form and becomes substance.

Matter

The substance of thought or expression as opposed to the manner in which it is stated or conveyed.

Matter

A subject of concern, feeling, or action
Matters of foreign policy.
A personal matter.

Matter

Trouble or difficulty
What's the matter with your car?.

Matter

An approximated quantity, amount, or extent
The construction will last a matter of years.

Matter

Something printed or otherwise set down in writing
Reading matter.

Matter

To be of importance
"Love is most nearly itself / When here and now cease to matter" (T.S. Eliot).

Matter

(uncountable) Material; substance.

Matter

(physics) The basic structural component of the universe, usually having mass and volume.

Matter

(physics) Matter made up of normal particles, not antiparticles.

Matter

A kind of substance.
Vegetable matter

Matter

Material, especially in books or magazines.
He always took some reading matter with him on the plane.

Matter

(philosophy) Aristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance.

Matter

An affair, condition, or subject, especially one of concern or (especially when preceded by the) one that is problematic.
Is much the matter with the old plan?
Something is the matter with him.
State matters

Matter

An approximate amount or extent.
I stayed for a matter of months.

Matter

(obsolete) essence; pith; embodiment.

Matter

(obsolete) (The) inducing cause or reason, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing.

Matter

To be important.
The only thing that matters to Jim is being rich.
Sorry for pouring ketchup on your clean white shirt! - Oh, don't worry, it does not matter.

Matter

To care about, to mind; to find important.

Matter

To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.

Matter

That of which anything is composed; constituent substance; material; the material or substantial part of anything; the constituent elements of conception; that into which a notion may be analyzed; the essence; the pith; the embodiment.
He is the matter of virtue.

Matter

That of which the sensible universe and all existent bodies are composed; anything which has extension, occupies space, or is perceptible by the senses; body; substance.

Matter

That with regard to, or about which, anything takes place or is done; the thing aimed at, treated of, or treated; subject of action, discussion, consideration, feeling, complaint, legal action, or the like; theme.
Son of God, Savior of men! Thy nameShall be the copious matter of my song.
Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge.

Matter

That which one has to treat, or with which one has to do; concern; affair; business.
To help the matter, the alchemists call in many vanities out of astrology.
Some young female seems to have carried matters so far, that she is ripe for asking advice.

Matter

Affair worthy of account; thing of consequence; importance; significance; moment; - chiefly in the phrases what matter? no matter, and the like.
A prophet some, and some a poet, cry;No matter which, so neither of them lie.

Matter

Inducing cause or occasion, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble.
And this is the matter why interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife.

Matter

Amount; quantity; portion; space; - often indefinite.
Away he goes, . . . a matter of seven miles.
I have thoughts to tarry a small matter.
No small matter of British forces were commanded over sea the year before.

Matter

Substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess; pus; purulent substance.

Matter

That which is permanent, or is supposed to be given, and in or upon which changes are effected by psychological or physical processes and relations; - opposed to form.

Matter

Written manuscript, or anything to be set in type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or which has been used, in printing.
Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse, but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot.

Matter

To be of importance; to import; to signify.
It matters not how they were called.

Matter

To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.

Matter

To regard as important; to take account of; to care for.
He did not matter cold nor hunger.

Matter

That which has mass and occupies space;
An atom is the smallest indivisible unit of matter

Matter

A vaguely specified concern;
Several matters to attend to
It is none of your affair
Things are going well

Matter

Some situation or event that is thought about;
He kept drifting off the topic
He had been thinking about the subject for several years
It is a matter for the police

Matter

A problem;
Is anything the matter?

Matter

(used with negation) having consequence;
They were friends and it was no matter who won the games

Matter

Written works (especially in books or magazines);
He always took some reading matter with him on the plane

Matter

Have weight; have import, carry weight;
It does not matter much

Matter

A subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation.
The matter of the conference was global warming.

Matter

An affair or situation under consideration; a problem.
We must attend to the matter before us promptly.

Common Curiosities

What does 'mater' mean?

Mater is a Latin term meaning "mother" and is also used for schools or universities.

What does 'alma mater' mean?

"Alma mater" refers to a person's former school or university, literally "nurturing mother."

Is 'mater' commonly used in modern English?

Mater is not commonly used in modern English; it has a formal or archaic tone.

Can 'matter' be used in a non-physical sense?

Yes, matter can refer to a subject or problem, as in "a matter of concern."

What is the plural form of 'mater'?

The plural form of mater is "matres" in Latin, but "maters" can be used informally.

Is 'mater' ever used colloquially?

In British English, mater can be a colloquial term for one's mother.

What is 'matter' in a scientific context?

In science, matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.

Is 'mater' used in legal terminology?

Mater is not typically used in legal terms; matter is, as in "subject matter."

How do you pronounce 'mater'?

Mater is pronounced "may-ter" or "mah-ter," depending on the context.

What types of matter are there?

Types of matter include solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.

Does 'matter' have a verb form?

Yes, as a verb, matter means to be of importance, as in "Your opinion matters."

Are there idiomatic expressions that use 'mater'?

No common idioms use mater, while matter is found in phrases like "as a matter of fact."

Can 'matter' ever be intangible?

Yes, in non-physical contexts, matter can be intangible, such as a topic of discussion.

What's a common use of 'matter' in everyday language?

A common use is to indicate importance, as in "It doesn't matter."

Is 'mater' ever used in biology?

Mater is not used in biology; matter is used to refer to organic or inorganic material.

Share Your Discovery

Share via Social Media
Embed This Content
Embed Code
Share Directly via Messenger
Link
Previous Comparison
Confidante vs. Confidant
Next Comparison
Maroon vs. Burgundy

Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms