significance

[sig-nif-i-kuhns]

noun

1. importance; consequence.

   the significance of the new treaty.

   Synonyms: weight, moment
   Antonyms: triviality

2. meaning; import.

   The familiar place had a new significance for her.

3. the quality of being significant or having a meaning.

   to give significance to dull chores.

significance

/ sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns /

noun

1. consequence or importance

2. something signified, expressed, or intended

3. the state or quality of being significant

4. statistics

   1. 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

   2. ( as modifier ) Compare confidence level See also hypothesis testing

      a significance level

Other Word Forms

• nonsignificance noun
• self-significance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of significance¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (from Middle French ), from Latin significantia “force, meaning,” equivalent to significant- ( significant ) + -ia -ia; ( -ance )

Synonym Study

See importance. See meaning.

Example Sentences

"I think it's an outrageous proposal for such a grand university with such a significance within the UK and internationally," she said.

Read more on BBC

The team's computational models reached a strong enough level of statistical significance to classify GJ 251 c as an exoplanet candidate, reinforcing the need for direct imaging with TMT to verify its properties.

Read more on Science Daily

A respite came this fall when the U.S. made two changes of significance for automakers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet Moscow downplayed the significance of the plan, which is rumoured to include 28 points.

Read more on BBC

The latter had bought it at a Nazi memorabilia auction in Germany, with both buyer and seller unaware of its historical significance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• consequence 
• gravity 
• influence 
• magnitude 
• matter 
• merit 
• prestige 
• relevance 
• virtue 
• weight