SIGNIFICANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does significant mean? 

• SIGNIFICANT (adjective)
  The adjective SIGNIFICANT has 4 senses:

1. important in effect or meaning

2. of considerable importance, size, or worth

3. too closely correlated to be attributed to chance and therefore indicating a systematic relation

4. rich in significance or implication

  Familiarity information: SIGNIFICANT used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SIGNIFICANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Important in effect or meaning

Synonyms:

important; significant

Context example:

statistically significant

Similar:

evidential; evidentiary (serving as or based on evidence)

portentous; prodigious (of momentous or ominous significance)

operative (effective; producing a desired effect)

probative; probatory (tending to prove a particular proposition or to persuade you of the truth of an allegation)

notable; noteworthy; remarkable (worthy of attention because interesting, significant, or unusual)

monumental (of outstanding significance)

large (fairly large or important in effect; influential)

fundamental; profound (far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something)

earthshaking; world-shaking; world-shattering (sufficiently significant to affect the whole world)

epoch-making; epochal (highly significant or important especially bringing about or marking the beginning of a new development or era)

momentous (of very great significance)

Also:

meaningful (having a meaning or purpose)

important; of import (of great significance or value)

Attribute:

significance (the quality of being significant)

Antonym:

insignificant (devoid of importance, meaning, or force)

Derivation:

significance (the quality of being significant)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of considerable importance, size, or worth

Synonyms:

significant; substantial

Context example:

won by a substantial margin

Similar:

considerable (large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Too closely correlated to be attributed to chance and therefore indicating a systematic relation

Context example:

no significant difference was found

Domain category:

statistics (a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters)

Antonym:

nonsignificant (attributable to chance)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Rich in significance or implication

Synonyms:

meaning; pregnant; significant

Context example:

a significant silence

Similar:

meaningful (having a meaning or purpose)

Derivation:

significance (a meaning that is not expressly stated but can be inferred)

significance (the message that is intended or expressed or signified)

signify (convey or express a meaning)

signify (make known with a word or signal)

 Context examples 

A clonal proliferation of cells arising in cells of mesenchymal embryonic without significant invasion or metastasis.

(Benign Mesenchymal Neoplasms of the Mouse Skin, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

Regions with significant homology to the C2-domain have been found in many proteins.

(C2 Domain, NCI Thesaurus)

EGFR, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is overexpressed in numerous cancer cell types, and plays a significant role in tumor cell progression.

(Carbon C 11 Erlotinib Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

There is no evidence of significant cytologic atypia or increased mitotic activity.

(Multicystic Mesothelioma, NCI Thesaurus)

Use of this agent has been associated with significant cardiotoxicity.

(Acodazole, NCI Thesaurus)

The researchers also found that the timing of a second head injury has a significant impact on the repair process in mice.

(Scientists watch the brain’s lining heal after a head injury, National Institutes of Health)

Indeed, this might be the first time in over a decade for you to meet someone who could become significant in your life.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Approximately half of melanomas have been found to express significant levels of this atypical protein, which is not expressed by normal tissues.

(NA17-A Antigen, NCI Thesaurus)

Axons extend significant distances to innervate target tissues.

(Neuronal Survival Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

An indication or description that the outcome of the physical examination was clinically significant.

(Physical Examination Clinically Significant, NCI Thesaurus)