significant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective important in effect or meaning
    important.
    • a significant change in tax laws
    • a significant change in the Constitution
    • a significant contribution
    • significant details
    • statistically significant
  2. adjective satellite fairly large
    substantial.
    • won by a substantial margin
  3. adjective too closely correlated to be attributed to chance and therefore indicating a systematic relation
    • the interaction effect is significant at the .01 level
    • no significant difference was found
  4. adjective satellite rich in significance or implication
    meaning; pregnant.
    • a meaning look

WordNet

Sig*nif"i*cant adjective
Etymology
L. significans, -antis, p. pr. of significare. See Signify.
Definitions
  1. Fitted or designed to signify or make known somethingl having a meaning; standing as a sign or token; expressive or suggestive; as, a significant word or sound; a significant look.
    It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant, but not efficient. Sir W. Raleigh.
  2. Deserving to be considered; important; momentous; as, a significant event.
Sig*nif"i*cant noun
Definitions
  1. That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol. Wordsworth.
    In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts. Shak.

Webster 1913