# insignificant

/ˌɪnsɪɡˈnjɪfɪkənt/ (US) · /ˌɪnsɪɡnˈɪfɪkənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/insignificant
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. unimportant

adjective · CEFR B2

too small or unimportant to be worth noticing.

For teachers: lacking importance, consequence, or value; having no noticeable effect on a situation.

- The difference in price was so insignificant that I didn't mind paying more.
- While the individual errors seemed insignificant, their cumulative effect over the fiscal year resulted in a substantial budgetary shortfall.

Usage: Often used to describe amounts, differences, or changes.

### 2. meaningless

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

having no meaning or purpose.

For teachers: devoid of meaning or symbolic importance; not signifying anything specific.

- To an outsider, these ancient symbols might look like insignificant marks on the wall.
- The witness provided a series of insignificant details that failed to clarify the timeline of the incident.

### 3. an unimportant person

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a person who has no power or importance.

For teachers: a person or thing of no importance or influence.

- He felt like a mere insignificant in the busy crowd of the city.
- The protagonist began the novel as a social insignificant, ignored by the aristocracy until a sudden inheritance changed his fortunes.

## Examples

- The error was insignificant and did not change the result.
- The delay was insignificant compared to the months of planning we had already done.
- Historians now view the treaty as insignificant, arguing that deeper economic forces drove the conflict regardless of its terms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.