Dematerialised

Dematerialised refers to the state or process of removing or reducing physical form, leaving something in intangible or non-physical form. The term is used across disciplines to describe a transition from material to immaterial representation, such as a book moving from a physical copy to a digital edition, or a product delivered as a service rather than a tangible object.

In sustainability and industry contexts, dematerialisation describes reducing material throughput and resource use by substituting digital, service-based, or on-demand alternatives for physical goods. Examples include digital media replacing printed copies, streaming music rather than physical discs, and software-as-a-service models that reduce hardware requirements. The idea is to decouple growth from material consumption while maintaining value.

In finance, dematerialised (or dematerialised) securities are ownership records that exist electronically instead of physical certificates, enabling faster transfer, settlement, and custody. Markets may require dematerialised holdings through central depositories, while others still issue paper certificates that are later converted. Dematerialisation can reduce costs and risks associated with handling physical paper but introduces reliance on information systems and cyber-security.

Etymology: from de- (remove) + materialise. In British English, dematerialise is standard; in American English, dematerialize. The corresponding noun forms are dematerialisation (British) or dematerialization (American). See also dematerialisation and dematerialized.