| Library / English Dictionary |
SIGNIFICANT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Of considerable importance, size, or worth
Example:
won by a substantial margin
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Similar:
considerable (large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Rich in significance or implication
Example:
a significant silence
Synonyms:
meaning; pregnant; significant
Classified under:
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)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Important in effect or meaning
Example:
statistically significant
Synonyms:
important; significant
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
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)
evidential; evidentiary (serving as or based on evidence)
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 4
Meaning:
Too closely correlated to be attributed to chance and therefore indicating a systematic relation
Example:
no significant difference was found
Classified under:
Adjectives
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)
Context examples:
A rare gestational trophoblastic tumor characterized by the presence of a diffuse cellular infiltrate composed of intermediate trophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts and by the absense of a significant population of syncytiotrophoblasts.
(Placental-Site Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)
Plasmalogens occur in nervous tissues, testes and kidneys at significant levels in vertebrates.
(Plasmalogen, NCI Thesaurus)
An indication or description of a continuing and significant impairment.
(Persistent or Significant Disability or Incapacity, NCI Thesaurus)
Infection with the herpesvirus CMV may play a significant role in tumor cell initiation and progression as well as chemoresistance.
(PEP-CMV Vaccine, NCI Thesaurus)
An indication or description that a serious, clinically significant event exists.
(Other Medically Important Serious Event, NCI Thesaurus)
They were also found to be able to provide significant helper T-cell activity in vivo.
(PADRE 965.10, NCI Thesaurus)
There is no significant mucin production.
(Pancreatic Intraductal Tubulopapillary Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)
Heating and cooling account for a significant proportion of energy use in buildings.
(Wind more effective than cold air at cooling rooms naturally, University of Cambridge)
"How is the lovely Miss Randal?" asked Amy with a significant smile.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
The words in themselves were not significant to her, but the fact that he was saying them was.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
