DictionaryAI

significant

sig-NIF-uh-kuhnt/sɪɡˈnɪf.ə.kənt/UKsig-NIF-i-kuhnt/sɪɡˈnɪf.ɪ.kənt/

5 meanings of significant

Practice

  1. 1
    bigadjective
    Big or important enough to notice or to matter.

    Like a change so big that everyone in the room notices it.

    The new medicine made a significant difference to her health.

    There was a significant drop in prices this month.

    UsageOften used with difference, change or number: a significant change.

    Oppositeinsignificant

  2. 2
    statisticsadjective
    So unlikely to happen by chance alone that it is taken as a sign of a real effect.

    The test showed a significant link between exercise and better sleep.

    Researchers found a significant difference between the two groups.

    UsageOften statistically significant. It means the result is hard to explain by chance alone, not that it is big.

    Note
  3. 3
    hintingadjective
    Showing a meaning without saying it in words, like a look or silence that tells you something.

    Like a wink that tells you a secret without any words.

    She gave him a significant look across the room.

    There was a significant pause before he finally answered.

    UsageMostly used with look, glance or pause: a significant look.

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    precise digitsadjective
    Describing a digit in a number that adds to how precise the number is.

    Like the numbers that really count when you measure something carefully.

    Round your answer to three significant digits.

    In 0.0040, only the four and the last zero are significant.

    UsageUsually significant figures or significant digits: round to two significant figures.

    Note
  2. 5
    nounarchaic
    A thing that stands for or points to something else, like a sign or symbol.
    And in my glass significants there are
    a. 1850, William Wordsworth, The Egyptian Maid

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of significant apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin significare, meaning to make a sign, from signum ("sign") plus a form of facere ("do, make").

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

  • Significant derives from Latin significare, through its present participle significans. en.wiktionary.org
  • Latin significare means to make a sign. logeion.org
  • Significare combines signum (sign) with a form of facere (do, make). en.wiktionary.org