significant
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
important or having a big effect on something.
having a major or noticeable effect; sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention.
Simple“The new law made a significant difference to the lives of many people.”
In context“The discovery of the new vaccine represented a significant breakthrough in the global fight against the pandemic.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
large enough to be noticed or to matter.
reasonably large in number, amount, or size.
Simple“A significant number of students decided to study from home this year.”
In context“The company invested a significant amount of capital into research and development over the last fiscal year.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
having a special or secret meaning that is not said out loud.
conveying a meaning that is not explicitly stated; suggestive of a deeper or hidden intent.
Simple“He gave her a significant look across the room, but he didn't say a word.”
In context“The silence that followed her question was significant, suggesting that the board members were not as united as they claimed.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
in science and math, describing a result that is unlikely to happen by accident.
having a low probability of occurring by chance; used to describe data that shows a true relationship or effect.
Simple“The researchers found a significant link between diet and heart health.”
In context“The correlation between the two variables was found to be statistically significant at the 0.05 level, rejecting the null hypothesis.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'statistically significant'.
Synonymsnon randomAntonyms
Usage significant changes · significant amounts · significant damage
“Another mass call-up, however, would carry significant political risks for the Kremlin.”
“Courtney Gartshore, 28, used the appliance to subject Dahlia-Rose Gartshore to “significant and sustained heat” on the head and body, fatally injuring her.”
From Latin significans, present participle of significare, from signum (“sign”) + ficare (“do, make”), variant of facere.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.