insignificant

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Too small, minor, or unimportant to matter or to deserve attention.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: an insignificant detail, the cost is insignificant.

   Patterns

   • insignificant compared to something
   • insignificant in comparison

   The cost is insignificant compared to the benefits.

   He felt insignificant standing beside the huge mountain.

   Those insignificant details can safely be ignored.

2. 2adjectivenot comparabletechnical

   Too small to be reliably different from chance in a statistical test.

   Grammar: Usually after be and often as statistically insignificant.

   Patterns

   • statistically insignificant

   The difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant.

   The study found an insignificant effect on test scores.

Word forms

Common combinations

relatively insignificant

The amount was relatively insignificant for a big company.

seem insignificant

A small mistake can seem insignificant at the time.

feel insignificant

The vast sky made her feel insignificant.

statistically insignificant

The change was statistically insignificant.

Synonyms and how they differ

trivial

Suggests something is silly or unimportant, often a matter, not a person.

negligible

Means so small it can be ignored, usually for amounts or effects.

minor

Neutral and means less important, without implying it can be ignored.

Opposites

Word family

insignificance noun

the quality of being unimportant

insignificantly adverb

in a minor or unimportant way

significant adjective

important or large enough to matter

Commonly confused: insignificant or insignificant?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “insignificant”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words