Essence vs. Substance — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on October 5, 2023
Essence refers to the inherent nature or core quality of something, while substance denotes the physical or tangible matter of which something is composed.
Difference Between Essence and Substance
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Essence and substance are terms that often address the core and form of something, but in varied dimensions. Essence points to the intrinsic, fundamental nature or characteristic of something. It addresses the "what" or "why" of an entity—its defining quality or spirit. Substance, on the other hand, pertains to the tangible, physical matter or material of something, or the real content of a subject.
In philosophical discussions, essence often speaks to the inherent nature or quality that makes an entity what it fundamentally is, separate from its accidents or manifestations. Substance, in contrast, tends to revolve around the physical or concrete existence of entities, emphasizing their material or tangible reality. In colloquial use, when someone says they want the "essence" of a story, they're seeking its crux or central theme. When asking about the "substance" of a story, they might be inquiring about its concrete details or substantial content.
From a more abstract perspective, essence can also be seen as the intangible aura or vibe of something, capturing its spirit or ethos. Substance, when viewed abstractly, can refer to the depth, solidity, or meaningful content of an idea, argument, or discourse. For instance, a debate might have essence in its core theme but lack substance in its detailed arguments.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Inherent nature or core quality
Physical or tangible matter
Philosophical Use
Fundamental nature or quality that defines an entity
Material or tangible existence
ADVERTISEMENT
Abstract Meaning
Intangible aura or vibe
Depth, solidity, or meaningful content
Colloquial Use
Crux or central theme
Concrete details or substantial content
In Context
What something fundamentally is
The material or content that gives it form or validity
Compare with Definitions
Essence
A characteristic or quality that defines something.
Kindness is the essence of her personality.
Substance
Physical or tangible matter.
The substance was identified as a rare mineral.
Essence
The inherent nature of something.
The essence of humanity is often debated among philosophers.
Substance
The real or essential part or element of something.
Her book lacked substance and was superficial at best.
Essence
The most important ingredient or component.
Trust is the essence of a strong relationship.
Substance
Material possessions or wealth.
He inherited a great deal of substance from his family.
Essence
A concentrated form of a flavor or fragrance.
She added vanilla essence to the cake batter.
Substance
That which has mass and occupies space; matter.
Essence
The central theme or main idea.
The essence of his argument was about freedom.
Substance
A material of a particular kind or constitution.
Essence
The intrinsic or indispensable quality or qualities that serve to characterize or identify something
The essence of democracy is the freedom to choose.
Substance
A drug, chemical, or other material (such as glue) that one is dependent on or uses habitually and that is often illegal or subject to government regulation
Which substance was he abusing?.
Essence
(Philosophy) The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things, especially as contrasted with its existence.
Substance
The most important part or idea of what is said or written; the essence or gist
The substance of the report.
Essence
The most important part or aspect of something
The essence of her argument is that the policy is wrongheaded.
Substance
That which is real or practical in quality or character; practical value
A plan without substance.
Essence
An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form.
Substance
Significance or importance
Did he accomplish anything of substance?.
Essence
Such an extract in a solution of alcohol.
Substance
Density; body
Air has little substance.
Essence
A perfume or scent.
Substance
Material possessions; goods; wealth
A person of substance.
Essence
One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated
A neighbor who is the essence of hospitality.
Substance
Physical matter; material.
Essence
Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity.
Substance
A form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties.
Essence
The inherent nature of a thing or idea.
Substance
The essential part of anything; the most vital part.
Essence
(philosophy) The true nature of anything, not accidental or illusory.
Substance
Substantiality; solidity; firmness.
Some textile fabrics have little substance.
Essence
Constituent substance.
Substance
Material possessions; estate; property; resources.
A man of substance
Essence
A being; especially, a purely spiritual being.
Substance
Drugs illegal narcotics
Substance abuse
Essence
A significant feature of something.
Substance
(theology) Hypostasis.
Essence
The concentrated form of a plant or drug obtained through a distillation process.
Essence of Jojoba
Substance
To give substance to; to make real or substantial.
Essence
An extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter used for flavouring, or as a restorative.
Vanilla essence
Substance
That which underlies all outward manifestations; substratum; the permanent subject or cause of phenomena, whether material or spiritual; that in which properties inhere; that which is real, in distinction from that which is apparent; the abiding part of any existence, in distinction from any accident; that which constitutes anything what it is; real or existing essence.
These cooks, how they stamp, and strain, and grind,And turn substance into accident!
Heroic virtue did his actions guide,And he the substance, not the appearance, chose.
Essence
Fragrance, a perfume.
Substance
The most important element in any existence; the characteristic and essential components of anything; the main part; essential import; purport.
This edition is the same in substance with the Latin.
It is insolent in words, in manner; but in substance it is not only insulting, but alarming.
Essence
The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence.
Substance
Body; matter; material of which a thing is made; hence, substantiality; solidity; firmness; as, the substance of which a garment is made; some textile fabrics have little substance.
Essence
The constituent quality or qualities which belong to any object, or class of objects, or on which they depend for being what they are (distinguished as real essence); the real being, divested of all logical accidents; that quality which constitutes or marks the true nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality of a thing, separated from its grosser parts.
The laws are at present, both in form and essence, the greatest curse that society labors under.
Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence of this virtue [charity].
The essence of Addison's humor is irony.
Substance
Material possessions; estate; property; resources.
And there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Thy substance, valued at the highest rate,Can not amount unto a hundred marks.
We are destroying many thousand lives, and exhausting our substance, but not for our own interest.
Essence
Constituent substance.
And uncompounded is their essence pure.
Substance
Same as Hypostasis, 2.
Essence
A being; esp., a purely spiritual being.
As far as gods and heavenly essencesCan perish.
He had been indulging in fanciful speculations on spiritual essences, until . . . he had and ideal world of his own around him.
Substance
To furnish or endow with substance; to supply property to; to make rich.
Essence
The predominant qualities or virtues of a plant or drug, extracted and refined from grosser matter; or, more strictly, the solution in spirits of wine of a volatile or essential oil; as, the essence of mint, and the like.
The . . . word essence . . . scarcely underwent a more complete transformation when from being the abstract of the verb "to be," it came to denote something sufficiently concrete to be inclosed in a glass bottle.
Substance
That which has mass and occupies space;
An atom is the smallest indivisible unit of matter
Essence
Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume.
Nor let the essences exhale.
Substance
The stuff of which an object consists
Essence
To perfume; to scent.
Substance
The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;
The gist of the prosecutor's argument
The heart and soul of the Republican Party
The nub of the story
Essence
The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;
The gist of the prosecutor's argument
The heart and soul of the Republican Party
The nub of the story
Substance
The idea that is intended;
What is the meaning of this proverb?
Essence
Any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted
Substance
Considerable capital (wealth or income);
He is a man of means
Essence
The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
Substance
What a communication that is about something is about
Essence
A toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor
Substance
Solidity, depth, or meaningful content.
His speech had both style and substance.
Substance
A particular kind of matter with uniform properties.
Water is a substance that freezes at 0°C.
Common Curiosities
Can essence be felt or touched?
Essence often refers to intangible qualities, so it's more about feeling or understanding than physically touching.
Is substance always tangible?
While substance often denotes tangible matter, it can also refer to the depth or meaningful content of ideas.
What's the primary distinction between essence and substance?
Essence is the inherent nature or core quality, while substance is the physical matter or material of something.
Can something have substance without essence?
Theoretically, something could be substantial (have depth or material) but lack a clear inherent nature (essence).
In philosophy, how do essence and substance differ?
Essence pertains to the inherent nature that defines an entity, while substance focuses on its tangible or material existence.
How are essence and substance used in science?
Essence might refer to a fundamental quality, while substance typically denotes a specific material or compound.
How might essence and substance relate to art?
In art, essence could denote the core emotion or theme, while substance might refer to the material used or depth of the message.
Which term, essence or substance, is more abstract?
Essence tends to be more abstract, capturing the intangible nature or vibe of something.
How are essence and substance used in everyday language?
Essence often denotes the core idea or theme, while substance can mean concrete details or depth of content.
Can a story be described using both terms?
Yes, a story might have an essence (central theme) and be rich in substance (detailed content).
Can a perfume have an essence?
Yes, perfumes often have a concentrated fragrance referred to as an essence.
Can essence be distilled or extracted?
In some contexts, like with fragrances, the essence can be extracted or concentrated.
Is a substantial argument always valid?
Not necessarily. An argument can have depth (substance) but still be flawed.
Is the substance of an argument its validity?
The substance of an argument refers to its depth and content, which can contribute to its validity.
Are essence and substance interchangeable?
While related, they're not strictly interchangeable. Essence emphasizes core nature, while substance focuses on material or depth.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Boiling vs. Evaporating
Next Comparison
Director vs. DeanAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba 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.
