Fabric vs. Material — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 23, 2024
Fabric refers to woven or knitted textile materials, commonly used in clothing, while material is a broader term encompassing substances or components used in the production of goods.
Difference Between Fabric and Material
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fabric is specifically produced through weaving or knitting processes, creating textiles like cotton, silk, and polyester. Material, on the other hand, includes any substance used in the manufacturing of products, extending beyond textiles to metals, plastics, and more.
Fabric typically implies a certain degree of flexibility and is integral to industries like fashion and home furnishings. Material encompasses a wider variety of physical substances, including hard and rigid forms like steel and wood.
Fabric is evaluated based on characteristics such as thread count, weave, and material type, which determine its texture and durability. Material evaluation varies widely depending on the context, focusing on properties like strength, conductivity, and chemical composition.
Fabric often connotes a piece of cloth used for specific purposes like sewing or upholstery. Material can refer to raw elements or compounds prior to any processing or refinement.
Fabric is selected based on its suitability for particular applications in fashion and decor, considering factors like drape, feel, and wear resistance. Material, whereas, is chosen for its functionality in broader applications, including construction, electronics, and crafts.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Textile, especially woven or knitted
Any substance from which things are made
Primary Use
Clothing, furnishings
Wide range, including industrial and commercial uses
Typical Forms
Cloth, textiles
Metals, plastics, textiles, ceramics
Characteristics Evaluated
Thread count, weave, type
Strength, conductivity, composition
Context of Use
Fashion, home decor
Construction, manufacturing, arts
Compare with Definitions
Fabric
Cloth used for making clothes and furnishings.
The designer sourced fabric from overseas for the new collection.
Material
Any substance used to make something.
Wood is a common material in furniture making.
Fabric
The structured textile produced from threads or yarn.
The fabric was woven tightly to ensure durability.
Material
Elements involved in the composition of something.
The sculpture was made with various materials including metal and glass.
Fabric
A synonym for cloth in many contexts.
The artist used fabric as a medium for her installations.
Material
A component used in the production of goods.
The manufacturer used recycled materials for the new product line.
Fabric
A material made by weaving or knitting fibers.
The fabric of her dress was a soft silk.
Material
Raw elements used in industrial processes.
Steel is a key material in construction.
Fabric
A textile with specific properties like stretch and breathability.
They chose a breathable fabric for the sportswear.
Material
Items needed for a specific activity.
She gathered all the materials for the workshop.
Fabric
A cloth produced especially by knitting, weaving, or felting fibers.
Material
A material is a substance or mixture of substances that constitutes an object. Materials can be pure or impure, living or non-living matter.
Fabric
The texture or quality of such cloth.
Material
The substance or substances out of which a thing is or can be made.
Fabric
A complex underlying structure
Destroyed the very fabric of the ancient abbey during wartime bombing.
Needs to protect the fabric of civilized society.
Material
Something, such as an idea or information, that is to be refined and made or incorporated into a finished effort
Material for a comedy.
Fabric
A method or style of construction.
Material
Materials Tools or apparatus for the performance of a given task
Writing materials.
Fabric
A structural material, such as masonry or timber.
Material
Yard goods or cloth.
Fabric
A physical structure; a building.
Material
A person who is qualified or suited for a position or activity
The members of the board felt that she was vice-presidential material.
Fabric
An edifice or building.
Material
Of, relating to, or composed of matter.
Fabric
(archaic) The act of constructing, construction, fabrication.
Material
Of, relating to, or affecting physical well-being; bodily
"the moral and material welfare of all good citizens" (Theodore Roosevelt).
Fabric
(archaic) The structure of anything, the manner in which the parts of a thing are united; workmanship, texture, make.
Cloth of a beautiful fabric
Material
Of or concerned with the physical as distinct from the intellectual or spiritual
"Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than any material force, that thoughts rule the world" (Ralph Waldo Emerson).
Fabric
The physical material of a building.
This church dates back to the 11th century, though the great majority of its fabric is fifteenth century or later.
Material
Being both relevant and consequential; crucial
Testimony material to the inquiry.
Fabric
The framework underlying a structure.
The fabric of our lives
The fabric of the universe
Material
(Philosophy) Of or relating to the matter of reasoning, rather than the form.
Fabric
A material made of fibers, a textile or cloth.
Cotton fabric
Material
Having to do with matter; consisting of matter.
This compound has a number of interesting material properties.
Fabric
The texture of a cloth.
Material
Worldly, as opposed to spiritual.
Don't let material concerns get in the way of living a happy life.
Fabric
(petrology) The appearance of crystalline grains in a rock.
Material
Significant.
You've made several material contributions to this project.
This is the most material fact in this lawsuit.
Fabric
(computing) Interconnected nodes that look like a textile fabric when diagrammed.
The Internet is a fabric of computers connected by routers.
Material
Matter which may be shaped or manipulated, particularly in making something.
Asphalt, composed of oil and sand, is a widely used material for roads.
Fabric
(transitive) To cover with fabric.
Material
Text written for a specific purpose.
We were a warm-up act at the time; we didn't have enough original material to headline.
Fabric
The structure of anything; the manner in which the parts of a thing are united; workmanship; texture; make; as cloth of a beautiful fabric.
Material
A sample or specimens for study.
Fabric
That which is fabricated
Anon out of the earth a fabric hugeRose like an exhalation.
Material
Cloth to be made into a garment. Fabric.
You'll need about a yard of material to make this.
Fabric
Cloth of any kind that is woven or knit from fibers, whether vegetable, animal, or synthetic; manufactured cloth; as, silks or other fabrics; made of a fabric that is 50% cotton and 50% polyester.
Material
A person, or people collectively, who are qualified for a certain position or activity.
Boy/girlfriend material
Marriage material
We have lots of presidential material in various public offices.
Fabric
The act of constructing; construction.
Tithe was received by the bishop, . . . for the fabric of the churches for the poor.
Material
Related data of various kinds, especially if collected as the basis for a document or book.
Fabric
Any system or structure consisting of connected parts; as, the fabric of the universe.
The whole vast fabric of society.
Material
The substance that something is made or composed of.
Fabric
To frame; to build; to construct.
Material
(chess) All of a player's pieces and pawns on the chessboard.
Fabric
Artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers;
The fabric in the curtains was light and semitraqnsparent
Woven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC
She measured off enough material for a dress
Material
To form from matter; to materialize.
Fabric
The underlying structure;
Restoring the framework of the bombed building
It is part of the fabric of society
Material
Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies.
The material elements of the universe.
Material
Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts; as, material well-being; material comforts.
Material
Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of consequence; not be dispensed with; important; significant.
Discourse, which was always material, never trifling.
I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose.
Material
Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter.
Material
The substance or matter of which anything is made or may be made.
Material
To form from matter; to materialize.
Material
The tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object;
Coal is a hard black material
Wheat is the stuff they use to make bread
Material
Information (data or ideas or observations) that can be used or reworked into a finished form;
The archives provided rich material for a definitive biography
Material
Things needed for doing or making something;
Writing materials
Useful teaching materials
Material
Artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers;
The fabric in the curtains was light and semitraqnsparent
Woven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC
She measured off enough material for a dress
Material
A person judged suitable for admission or employment;
He was university material
She was vice-presidential material
Material
Concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests;
Material possessions
Material wealth
Material comforts
Material
Derived from or composed of matter;
The material universe
Material
Directly relevant to a matter especially a law case;
His support made a material difference
Evidence material to the issue at hand
Facts likely to influence the judgment are called material facts
A material witness
Material
Concerned with or affecting physical as distinct from intellectual or psychological well-being;
Material needs
The moral and material welfare of all good citizens
Material
Having material or physical form or substance;
That which is created is of necessity corporeal and visible and tangible
Material
Having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary;
The substantial world
A mere dream, neither substantial nor practical
Most ponderous and substantial things
Common Curiosities
Is cotton a fabric or a material?
Cotton can be both; in raw form, it is a material, and when woven into a textile, it becomes a fabric.
Can fabric be considered a material?
Yes, fabric is a subset of materials, specifically those used in textile production.
How do you choose the right fabric for a project?
Choosing the right fabric involves considering the intended use, desired properties like durability and feel, and the required care instructions.
Are materials always solid?
No, materials can be in any state: solid, liquid, or gas, depending on their use and properties.
What role do fabrics play in interior design?
Fabrics play a crucial role in interior design by contributing to the aesthetics, comfort, and functionality of a space.
How do fabric properties affect clothing performance?
Fabric properties like breathability, stretch, and moisture-wicking affect the performance, comfort, and suitability of clothing for specific activities.
What is the primary difference between fabric and material?
Fabric is a type of material specifically made by weaving or knitting, primarily used in textiles, while material is a more general term that refers to any substance used in making products.
Can materials be both natural and synthetic?
Yes, materials can be natural like wood and wool, or synthetic like plastics and synthetic fibers.
Why is the choice of material important in manufacturing?
The choice of material affects the product’s quality, functionality, cost, and suitability for its intended purpose.
How does the textile industry impact the environment?
The textile industry impacts the environment through the consumption of resources like water and energy, and through pollution from dyeing and finishing processes.
How does the cost of materials influence product pricing?
The cost of materials directly influences the pricing of products, affecting everything from production costs to the final retail price.
What types of materials are used in high-tech industries?
High-tech industries often use advanced materials like silicon, ceramics, and high-performance polymers.
What are some common materials used in construction?
Common materials in construction include wood, steel, concrete, and glass.
What are sustainable materials?
Sustainable materials are those that are sourced, used, and disposed of in a way that minimizes impact on the environment.
What innovations are being seen in material science?
Innovations in material science include the development of biomaterials, nanomaterials, and smart materials that respond to environmental stimuli.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
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.
