n.
Pronunciation: ' s ə b-st ə n(t)s
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin substantia, from substant-, substans, present participle of substare to stand under, from sub- + stare to stand ― more at STAND
Date: 14th century
1 a : essential nature : ESSENCE b : a fundamental or characteristic part or quality c Christian Science : GOD 1B
2 a : ultimate reality that underlies all outward manifestations and change b : practical importance : MEANING , USEFULNESS <the ⋯ billwhich will be without substance in the sense that it will authorize nothing more than a set of ideas ― Richard Reeves>
3 a : physical material from which something is made or which has discrete existence b : matter of particular or definite chemical constitution c : something (as drugs or alcoholic beverages) deemed harmful and usually subject to legal restriction <possession of a controlled substance > < substance abuse>
4 : material possessions : PROPERTY <a family of substance >
– sub · stance · less \ -l ə s \ adjective
– in substance : in respect to essentials : FUNDAMENTALLY