significant
adjectivenouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//sɪɡˈnɪf.ɪ.kənt//
- United States//sɪɡˈnɪf.ə.kənt//
- United States//sɪɡˈnɪf.ə.ɡənt//
Signifying something; carrying meaning.
adjective
- 1
Signifying something; carrying meaning.
a significant word or sound
a significant look
It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant, but not efficient.
As evening came on, it grew prematurely dark and cloudy; while the waves acquired that dull indigo tint so significant of ugly weather.
- 2
Having a noticeable or major effect.
That was a significant step in the right direction.
The First World War was a significant event.
The “little green men”—faces covered, wearing unmarked olive uniforms, speaking Russian and using Russian weapons—have played a significant role in both the occupation of Crimea and the civil war in eastern Ukraine.¹⁹⁶
- 3
Reasonably large in number or amount.
- 4
Having a covert or hidden meaning.
- 5
Having a low probability of occurring by chance (for example, having high correlation and thus likely to be related).
- 6
Of a digit or figure, see significant figure.
Etymology
From Latin significans, present participle of significare, from signum (“sign”) + ficare (“do, make”), variant of facere.
noun
- 1
That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol.
In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts.
And in my glass significants there are
Forms
- plural
- significants
- comparative
- more significant
- superlative
- most significant
significant · Signifying something; carrying meaning.
significantly · In a significant manner or to a significant extent.signing · The act of concluding a contract, especially by an athlete or…signora · Mrs; madam; title of address or respect for women in Italy.