Raw Materials
Definition
Raw materials are basic substances in their natural, unprocessed state that are used in manufacturing or industrial production processes.
Analogy
Imagine raw materials as the ingredients needed for baking cookies - flour, sugar, eggs etc. Without these base components, you can't make your final product - delicious cookies!
Related terms
Natural Resources: Naturally occurring substances considered valuable in their relatively unmodified (natural) form such as coal, oil or minerals.
Industrial Revolution: A period from 1760 to 1840 where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transport had a profound effect on socioeconomic conditions starting in Britain then spreading throughout Europe and America.
Manufacturing Industry: This is an industry that uses raw materials to produce goods on large scale for consumers; it includes sectors like textiles, pharmaceuticals, food processing etc.
"Raw Materials" appears in:
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.