signification

American  

[sig-nuh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌsɪg nə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. meaning; import; sense.

2. the act or fact of signifying; signifying; indication.

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signification British  

/ ˌsɪɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. something that is signified; meaning or sense

2. the act of signifying

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Other Word Forms

• nonsignification noun

Etymology

Origin of signification

1250–1300; Middle English significacion (< Old French signification, significaciun ) < Latin significātiōn- (stem of significātiō ) signal, emphasis, meaning, equivalent to significāt ( us ), past participle of significāre to signify ( -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Klemperer, Boulez said, seemed “much more interested in the signification of the form of music.”

From New York Times

“If you keep for a signification amount of time capacity that you don’t use, you put yourself in trouble. That’s what experience shows. So you need to continually adjust your capacity to your needs.”

From Seattle Times

The apartment signs of L.A. announce location through flair, decadence, strangeness, absurdity, signification.

From Los Angeles Times

A National Security Council spokeswoman told The Associated Press that the U.S. “will send a signification amount of additional doses to Haiti soon,” but further details were not immediately available.

From Seattle Times

Homeless people and those who were sick or older make up a signification portion of the death toll.

From New York Times