Word Confusion: Substantial versus Substantive

Plural for the noun: substantials

Plural for the noun: substantives

• Strongly built or made
• [Of a meal] Large and filling
• Important in material or social terms
• Wealthy
• Influential

Of solid character or quality

• Firm, stout, or strong

Of real worth, value, or effect

Concerning the essentials of something

Of a corporeal or material nature

• Real and tangible rather than imaginary
• Relating to the substance, matter, or material of a thing

Basic or essential

• Fundamental

Of or relating to the essence of a thing

[Philosophy] Relating to or of the nature of substance or reality rather than an accident or attribute

Noun:
[Obsolete; Usually used in plural noun] The things belonging to or constituting the substance

• An essential part or element
• Essentials

[Usually used in plural noun] Anything large in amount or degree

[Usually used in plural noun] Substantial or solid things

[Usually used in plural noun] The substantial or solid parts of a meal

• Of, relating to, containing, or being the essential element of a thing

Real or actual

Having a separate and independent function, resources, or existence

Of considerable amount or quantity

Possessing substance

• Having practical importance, value, or effect

[Law] Pertaining to the rules of right which courts are called on to apply, as distinguished from rules of procedure

Solid in foundation or basis

[Of a dye] Attaching directly to the material without the aid of a mordant

[Grammar] Denoting, relating to, or standing in place of a noun

Noun:
A noun or a pronoun used in place of a noun

A pronoun, adjective, or other word or phrase functioning as a noun

There was a row of substantial Victorian villas that had fallen into disrepair.

Now that was a most satisfying and substantial meal.

The Brunstons were a substantial Devon family.

There was substantial agreement on changing policies.

You know that spirits are shadowy, human beings substantial, right?

Peter had issues with minor aspects but was in agreement with the substantial parts of the ruling.

John Henry had quite a substantial physique.

Their two stories were in substantial agreement.

There were substantial reasons for exercising eminent domain.

Noun:
Nature doth prefer any creature for its substantials or essentials.

Those who in the substantials of the Protestant Religion are of the same persuasions with our selves.

“One who is certainly not chargeable with neglect of the substantials of historical science” (Pattison).

“A great proportion of architectural ornaments are literally hollow, and a September gale would strip them off, like borrowed plumes, without injury to the substantials” (Thoreau, 41).

“The substantials were all on a side-table” (Braddon).

We need a more substantive adjective here.

To be is a substantive verb.

There are substantive issues under discussion.

“Greer never recounts Crist actually governing or even engaging in any kind of substantive policy battles” (Wilson).

Substantive law is a “statutory or written law that governs the rights and obligations of everyone within its jurisdiction” (Substantive).

A substantive dye has a high affinity for cellulose fibers such as cotton or rayon, etc., even hair.

Noun:
Botany is a substantive that indicates a knowledge of plants.

I’ll have my regular, Erin.

Where’s that sweetheart of mine?