ENGLISH
REFERENCE

significant

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //səɡˈnɪfɪkənt// UK //sɪɡnˈɪfɪkənt// sig·nif·i·cant Academic General-service

adj. large enough to be noticed or to have an important effect. You use this to describe something that matters because of its size or meaning.

adj. sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy. In a statistical context, it indicates that a result is unlikely to have occurred by chance.


SIMPLE

The new law led to a significant change in the economy.

CONTEXTUAL

Researchers noted a significant improvement in patient health after the new medicine was introduced into the trial.

COMPLEX

The data shows a statistically significant correlation between early literacy programs and long-term academic success, though the specific mechanisms of this influence remain a subject of active debate.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Latin significans, present participle of significare, from signum (“sign”) + ficare (“do, make”), variant of facere.

Usage

In technical writing, especially statistics, it typically refers to probability rather than just 'importance'. Often paired with 'amount', 'change', or 'impact'.

Pitfall

a significate changea significant changeLearners sometimes use 'significate' as an adjective, but 'significant' is the correct form for describing something important or large.

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