substantial issue

[səbˈstænʃəl ˈɪʃuː]
noun phrasepl: substantial issues
questão substancial
1. A significant, important, or fundamental matter or problem that requires serious attention and consideration
The court ruled that the contract dispute involved a substantial issue that warranted further investigation.
O tribunal decidiu que a disputa contratual envolvia uma questão substancial que merecia investigação adicional.
2. In law, a point of real importance or significance as opposed to a minor or technical matter
The attorney argued that the defendant's alibi was not a substantial issue in proving guilt.
O advogado argumentou que o álibi do réu não era uma questão substancial para provar a culpa.
3. A central or core problem that addresses the merits of a case rather than procedural technicalities
We must focus on the substantial issues rather than getting lost in procedural arguments.
Devemos focar nas questões substanciais em vez de nos perdermos em argumentos procedimentais.
This term is predominantly used in legal, academic, and formal business contexts in both Brazil and the United States. In Brazilian jurisprudence, distinguishing between 'questões substanciais' and 'questões procedimentais' is fundamental to understanding judicial decisions. The phrase reflects common law and civil law traditions where merit-based arguments take precedence over technical procedural objections.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
material issuefundamental matterimportant questioncore problemsignificant point
Antonyms / Antônimos
trivial matterminor issueprocedural mattertechnical detail

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
questão substancial
Standard legal and formal usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
questão de fundo
Alternative phrasing meaning 'issue of substance/merit'
São Paulo
matéria substancial
Common legal terminology in commercial and corporate contexts
Portugal
questão de fundo/matéria de substância
Portuguese usage emphasizes 'fundo' (merit/substance)

Related Words

substantivemeritcontroversydisputelegal matter

Related Idioms & Phrases

get to the heart of the matter
address the elephant in the room
tackle the real issue
cut through the noise
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