significant figure

American  

[sig-nif-i-kuhnt fig-yer] / sɪgˈnɪf ɪ kənt ˈfɪg yər /

noun

1. each of the digits forming a number that expresses a determined degree of calculation: a sequence of significant figures always begins with the number’s first nonzero digit.

   Rounding each of the measurements to three significant figures, your answers to the first two problems should be 19.0 inches and 4.52 kilometers, respectively.

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Etymology

Origin of significant figure

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

The PACs, he said, “have made Bores, in some ways, the most significant figure in the race.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Recent threat assessments may not capture the full scope of potential risks to such a historically significant figure.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025

Over time, Dame Anna gradually became a significant figure not just in fashion, but western culture.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025

Whatever the public perception, Vance’s ambitions and adaptability suggest he is poised to remain a significant figure in American politics for years to come.

From Salon • Nov. 3, 2024

So suppose the United States wanted to reduce enemy forces by 20 percent—a significant figure, though hardly enough to break their will.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin