significant
Americanadjective
-
important and deserving of attention; of consequence.
Their advice played a significant role in saving my marriage.
- Synonyms:
- weighty, momentous, consequential
-
relatively large in amount or quantity.
a significant decrease in revenue.
-
having or expressing a meaning; indicative.
a significant symbol of royalty.
-
having a special, secret, or disguised meaning; suggestive.
a significant wink.
-
Statistics. of or relating to observations that are unlikely to occur by chance and that therefore indicate a systematic cause.
Memory training produced a statistically significant improvement in group performance.
noun
adjective
-
having or expressing a meaning; indicative
-
having a covert or implied meaning; suggestive
-
important, notable, or momentous
-
statistics of or relating to a difference between a result derived from a hypothesis and its observed value that is too large to be attributed to chance and that therefore tends to refute the hypothesis
Usage
What are other ways to say significant? The adjective significant describes things that are important, indicative of something, or suggestive of a hidden secret meaning. Do you know when to use significant, expressive, meaningful, and suggestive? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of significant
First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin significant- (stem of significāns ), present participle of the verb significāre “to indicate, denote”; see signify, -ant
Explanation
Use the adjective significant to describe something that is important. Your "significant other" means the person who's most important in your life. A significant result in a scientific study is a result large enough to matter. A less common meaning of significant is to describe something that has a special or hidden meaning. A significant smile can convey feelings or information without words. This adjective is from Latin significans, from significare "to signify," from signum "a sign, mark" plus facere "to make."
Vocabulary lists containing significant
Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 1
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!
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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 Language of Standardized Tests, List 4
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.
"There is little point celebrating the number of trees we plant if a significant number of them are dead a year later," said councillor Katerina Lusk.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
The most significant activity is happening with concessions, which don’t show up in headline prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
California sees significant theft, in part, because of its restrictive privacy laws on GPS tracking of rental vehicles, according to Sharky Laguana, owner of Bandago Van Rentals based in San Francisco.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
A second MRI measurement did not show a significant difference between the groups.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
This sanctuary has not only set an important precedent in the protection of shipwrecks but has also led to another significant development.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
