essential material

[ɪˈsenʃəl məˈtɪriəl]
noun phrasepl: essential materials
material essencial
1. Raw materials, components, or supplies that are absolutely necessary or critical for the functioning, production, or completion of something
Steel and copper are essential materials for the construction industry.
Aço e cobre são materiais essenciais para a indústria da construção.
2. Goods or substances that are indispensable for maintaining basic living standards or operations
During the pandemic, food and medical supplies were classified as essential materials.
Durante a pandemia, alimentos e suprimentos médicos foram classificados como materiais essenciais.
3. Primary or fundamental materials required before any other secondary materials can be used
Before starting the project, we need to secure all essential materials.
Antes de iniciar o projeto, precisamos garantir todos os materiais essenciais.
The term 'essential materials' gained prominence in both Brazil and the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic when governments classified certain goods and supplies as 'essential' to maintain economic and social functions. In Brazilian Portuguese, this distinction between 'essencial' and 'não-essencial' became particularly important in policy discussions and commercial regulations.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
vital materialscritical suppliesfundamental materialsnecessary suppliescore materials
Antonyms / Antônimos
optional materialssupplementary materialsnon-essential suppliesluxury goods

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
material essencial
Standard term used in business, industrial, and administrative contexts
Rio de Janeiro
material essencial / essencial
Common in commercial and industrial sectors
São Paulo
material essencial / insumo essencial
Often used in manufacturing and supply chain contexts
Portugal
material essencial / bem essencial
More formal usage; 'bem essencial' also used for essential goods

Related Words

raw materialssuppliescomponentsresourcesinventory

Related Idioms & Phrases

the essentials
back to basics
must-haves
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →