significant

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Large or important enough to be noticed or to have a real effect.

   Grammar: Comparable: more significant. Often used before a noun, such as a significant change.

   Patterns

   • significant for someone
   • significant to someone
   • a significant amount of something

   The new bridge made a significant difference to commuters.

   A significant number of students passed the exam.

   Her promotion was a significant moment in her career.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Carrying a hidden or special meaning, often expressed without words.

   Grammar: Often describes looks, silences and gestures: a significant glance.

   Patterns

   • a significant look
   • a significant pause

   She gave him a significant look across the table.

   There was a significant pause before he answered.

   He raised a significant eyebrow when the price was mentioned.

3. 3adjectivenot comparabletechnical

   In statistics, unlikely to have happened by chance, according to a chosen test.

   Grammar: Used in the phrase statistically significant; it does not mean the effect is large.

   Patterns

   • statistically significant
   • significant at the five percent level

   The difference between the groups was statistically significant.

   A significant result does not prove the drug is useful.

   The study found no significant link between the two.

Common combinations

significant difference

There is a significant difference between the two prices.

significant increase

The town saw a significant increase in visitors.

statistically significant

The results were statistically significant.

significant role

She played a significant role in the project.

significant other

Bring your significant other to the party.

significant amount

A significant amount of rain fell overnight.

Synonyms and how they differ

important

Important is more general and common, while significant often suggests a measurable or noticeable effect.

considerable

Considerable stresses a large size or amount, not importance.

notable

Notable stresses being worth noticing or remembering, even if the effect is small.

meaningful

Meaningful suggests personal or emotional value, rather than size or effect.

Opposites

Word family

significance noun

the quality of being important or meaningful

significantly adverb

to a large or noticeable degree

signify verb

to mean or indicate something

insignificant adjective

too small or unimportant to matter

Commonly confused: significant or significant? significant or significance?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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