significant

[sig-nif-i-kuhnt]

adjective

1. important and deserving of attention; of consequence.

   Their advice played a significant role in saving my marriage.

   Synonyms: weighty, momentous, consequential

2. relatively large in amount or quantity.

   a significant decrease in revenue.

3. having or expressing a meaning; indicative.

   a significant symbol of royalty.

4. having a special, secret, or disguised meaning; suggestive.

   a significant wink.

5. 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

1. something significant; a sign.

significant

/ sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt /

adjective

1. having or expressing a meaning; indicative

2. having a covert or implied meaning; suggestive

3. important, notable, or momentous

4. 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

Other Word Forms

• significantly adverb
• nonsignificant adjective
• supersignificant adjective
• unsignificant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of significant¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin significant- (stem of significāns ), present participle of the verb significāre “to indicate, denote”; signify, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of significant¹

C16: from Latin significāre to _signify

Example Sentences

The decline is especially significant because TV is the region’s main driver of production.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ford stock was at about $12.70 a share before a significant drop in early October, after details of the fire emerged.

Read more on Barron's

China’s significant role in AI, particularly in open-source models, challenges the assumption that U.S.

Read more on Barron's

“For the items that are imported, there’s likely to be significant pricing that is passed along. Plus, domestic producers of these goods may take this opportunity to modestly raise prices as market prices move up.”

Read more on MarketWatch

But he would be under significant pressure to dissolve again the National Assembly and hold new parliamentary elections.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• big 
• consequential 
• considerable 
• meaningful 
• momentous 
• notable 
• noteworthy 
• serious 
• substantial 
• vital 

When To Use

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.