significant

[sig-nif-i-kuhnt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR significant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

important; of consequence.

having or expressing a meaning; indicative; suggestive: a significant wink.

Statistics. of or relating to observations that are unlikely to occur by chance and that therefore indicate a systematic cause.

noun

something significant; a sign.

Origin of significant

1570–80; < Latin significant- (stem of significāns), present participle of significāre to signify; see -ant

Related formssig·nif·i·cant·ly, adverbnon·sig·nif·i·cant, adjectivenon·sig·nif·i·cant·ly, adverbsu·per·sig·nif·i·cant, adjectivesu·per·sig·nif·i·cant·ly, adverbun·sig·nif·i·cant, adjectiveun·sig·nif·i·cant·ly, adverb

Synonyms for significant

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR significant ON THESAURUS.COM

1. consequential, momentous, weighty. 2. See expressive.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for significantly

naturally, unquestionably, undoubtedly, automatically, fairly, somewhat, very, reasonably, rather, pretty, relatively, considerably, moderately, quite, far, slightly, partially, significantly, necessarily, originally

Examples from the Web for significantly

Contemporary Examples of significantly

The death toll, which experts believe has been significantly undercut by secret burials, stands at 7,905.
The Race for the Ebola Vaccine
Abby Haglage
January 7, 2015
Significantly, those being targeted are disproportionately transgender, and disproportionately people of color.
Is Brooklyn Becoming Unsafe for Gays? It Depends On Which Ones
Jay Michaelson
October 18, 2014
It changed him significantly, altered his ideas, and I believe had a profound effect on his best friend Martin.
How Hitch & Amis Discovered Evil In My House
Peter Foges
September 28, 2014
Significantly, we learn that Dontae never played football as a kid, and thus was never indoctrinated into its codes of valor.
Two New Films Preach Our Nation’s Corrosive Gridiron Gospel
Steve Almond
September 20, 2014
The RJC will be spending and Adelson will be donating “significantly more than in the past,” one board member told me.
Casino Tycoon Sheldon Adelson Takes $100 Million Gamble on GOP Senate
Peter Stone
September 3, 2014

Historical Examples of significantly

"There might be reasons for that," said Robert, significantly.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
The woman shook her head, amused, "Not until," she told him significantly.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance
"If you only do Jenkins's, I'll do yours," replied Mr. Galloway, significantly.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
"I can understand as they might be flash uns," he remarked, significantly.
Henry Dunbar
M. E. Braddon
"Jist th' same as th' other wan," he said gloomily and significantly.
The Cruise of the Dry Dock
T. S. Stribling

British Dictionary definitions for significantly

significant

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

Derived Formssignificantly, adverb

Word Origin for significant

C16: from Latin significāre to signify

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for significantly

significant

adj.

1570s, "having a meaning," from Latin significantem (nominative significans, present participle of significare "make known, indicate" (see signify). Earlier in the same sense was significative (c.1400). Often "having a special or secret meaning," hence "important" (1761). Related: Significantly. Significant figure is from 1680s. Significant other (n.) attested by 1961, in psychology, "the most influential other person in the patient's world."