significance
The quality of being worthy of attention or importance, often relating to the underlying meaning or consequence of an action. In academic and research contexts, it specifically refers to the likelihood that a result or relationship is caused by something other than mere random chance.
Examples
3 of 5She didn't fully grasp the significance of the heirloom until she learned about her ancestors' journey.
She didn't understand how important or meaningful the family object was until she heard the history.
The court must determine the legal significance of the defendant's previous statements.
The court needs to decide the importance or weight of what the person said before in a legal sense.
I don't really see the significance of him wearing a blue tie today; it's probably just random.
I don't think there is any special meaning behind his choice of tie color.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'SIGN'. Significance is the 'sign' that something is important or has a deeper meaning.
Quick Quiz
The discovery of the ancient ruins is of historical ________ for the local community.
Correct!
The correct answer is: significance
Examples
She didn't fully grasp the significance of the heirloom until she learned about her ancestors' journey.
everydayShe didn't understand how important or meaningful the family object was until she heard the history.
The court must determine the legal significance of the defendant's previous statements.
formalThe court needs to decide the importance or weight of what the person said before in a legal sense.
I don't really see the significance of him wearing a blue tie today; it's probably just random.
informalI don't think there is any special meaning behind his choice of tie color.
The study failed to reach statistical significance, suggesting that the observed effects may be due to chance.
academicThe research results were not strong enough to prove a definite cause-and-effect relationship.
The strategic significance of acquiring the startup lies in its proprietary AI technology.
businessThe main business reason and importance for buying the small company is their unique technology.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
of little significance
not very important or not having much impact
symbolic significance
importance derived from what something represents rather than what it is
grasp the significance
to understand the deep meaning or importance of a situation
Often Confused With
While often used interchangeably, 'significance' often implies a deeper, symbolic, or hidden meaning, whereas 'importance' is more general.
'Signification' refers to the literal meaning of a word or sign, while 'significance' refers to the quality of being important.
Usage Notes
Use 'significance' when you want to emphasize the meaning or the far-reaching consequences of something. In scientific writing, always use it carefully to refer to 'statistical significance' unless specified otherwise.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use the archaic form 'significancy' or use 'significance' as an adjective (e.g., saying 'it is significance' instead of 'it is significant').
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'SIGN'. Significance is the 'sign' that something is important or has a deeper meaning.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'significantia', from 'significare', which means 'to make known' or 'indicate by signs'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Western academic culture, 'statistical significance' (p < 0.05) is the gold standard for determining if a scientific discovery is valid.
Quick Quiz
The discovery of the ancient ruins is of historical ________ for the local community.
Correct!
The correct answer is: significance
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