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significant

adj.
US //səɡˈnɪfɪkənt// UK //sɪɡnˈɪfɪkənt// sig·nif·i·cant
  1. 1 important or major (adj.)
    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.

    Example

    The new law made a significant difference to the lives of many people.

    Example

    The discovery of the new vaccine represented a significant breakthrough in the global fight against the pandemic.
  2. 2 large in amount (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    large enough to be noticed or to matter.

    reasonably large in number, amount, or size.

    Example

    A significant number of students decided to study from home this year.

    Example

    The company invested a significant amount of capital into research and development over the last fiscal year.
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  1. 3 suggesting a hidden meaning (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    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.

    Example

    He gave her a significant look across the room, but he didn't say a word.

    Example

    The silence that followed her question was significant, suggesting that the board members were not as united as they claimed.
  2. 4 not by chance (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Technical Math

    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.

    Example

    The researchers found a significant link between diet and heart health.

    Example

    The correlation between the two variables was found to be statistically significant at the 0.05 level, rejecting the null hypothesis.

    Usage

    Often used in the phrase 'statistically significant'.
    • non random
Origin

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

Word family

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