meaningful

[mee-ning-fuhl]

adjective

1. full of meaning, significance, purpose, or value; purposeful; significant.

   a meaningful wink;

   a meaningful choice.

meaningful

/ ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl /

adjective

1. having great meaning or validity

2. eloquent, expressive

   a meaningful silence

Other Word Forms

• meaningfully adverb
• meaningfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of meaningful¹

First recorded in 1850–55; meaning + -ful

Example Sentences

A CMO role in sports can offer executives a more meaningful job than the corporate hamster wheel—but glamour and predictability can be in short supply.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The cast had become more than just collaborators, developing real, meaningful friendships over the course of filming the show.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Research firm Capital Economics estimates the Budget will knock 0.2% off GDP in 2026 – a meaningful hit to an economy that only grew 0.1% in the third quarter of this year.

Read more on BBC

According to the researchers, this case demonstrates that even isolated artifacts, which are often challenging to interpret, can gain meaningful historical context through careful study.

Read more on Science Daily

Sunday’s talks had been “probably the most productive and meaningful meeting so far in this entire process since we have been involved,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Geneva.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• consequential 
• essential 
• important 
• purposeful 
• relevant 
• serious 
• substantial 
• useful 
• valid 
• worthwhile 

When To Use

What are other ways to say meaningful?

Something that is meaningful, such as a meaningful wink or meaningful choice, is full of meaning, purpose, or value. Do you know how meaningful differs from the synonyms expressive, significant, and suggestive? Find out on Thesaurus.com.