significance
Americannoun
-
importance; consequence.
the significance of the new treaty.
- Antonyms:
- triviality
-
meaning; import.
The familiar place had a new significance for her.
-
the quality of being significant or having a meaning.
to give significance to dull chores.
noun
-
consequence or importance
-
something signified, expressed, or intended
-
the state or quality of being significant
-
statistics
-
a measure of the confidence that can be placed in a result, esp a substantive causal hypothesis, as not being merely a matter of chance
-
( as modifier ) Compare confidence level See also hypothesis testing
a significance level
-
Synonym Usage
See importance. See meaning.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of significance
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (from Middle French ), from Latin significantia “force, meaning,” equivalent to significant- ( see significant) + -ia -ia; ( see -ance)
Explanation
Significance means having the quality of being "significant" — meaningful, important. It also refers to the meaning of something. A certain date might have significance because it's your birthday or the anniversary of Princess Di's wedding. Significance starts with the word sign for a reason. An item's significance is a sign of its importance. The significance of something can be implicit or explicit — meaning it can be clear or only known with a deeper understanding of the situation. Your perfect score on the Calculus exam might have added significance for people who know that you never even opened your textbook to study.
Vocabulary lists containing significance
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Nothing But the Truth
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The findings have been rated 2.6 sigma, which is the system that marks the statistical significance of discoveries.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Bessent’s actions take on added significance given a searing critique he laid out last year of how the central bank operates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
The location used for his house carries great significance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
However, that result did not reach statistical significance, which the researchers said could reflect the smaller number of prostate cancer cases within that group.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
It may be impossible to overstate the significance of race in defining the basic structure of American society.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
