significant figures

British  

plural noun

1. the figures of a number that express a magnitude to a specified degree of accuracy, rounding up or down the final figure

   3.141 59 to four significant figures is 3.142

2. the number of such figures Compare decimal place

   3.142 has four significant figures

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Example Sentences

“Preppy dressing is back. The old money vibe is back, the obsession with Carolyn Bessette,” said Alt, who made her name selling apartments that often belonged to artists and other significant figures.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 15, 2025

One of the most significant figures of the devolution era will leave the Senedd in 2026.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2024

Chase Young, Trent Williams and Kyle Shanahan will indeed make appearances at FedEx Field on Sunday, a homecoming for three of the most significant figures in the Washington franchise’s history.

From Washington Times • Dec. 28, 2023

Then, however, O’Driscoll considered the clout this famously liberal city would lose when the House speaker and one of Washington’s most significant figures steps aside.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2022

Solve the equation obtaining the values of the roots correct to three significant figures.

From A Review of Algebra by Rivenburg, Romeyn Henry