significance
HighFormal/Academic
Definition
Meaning
The quality of being important or having meaning.
In statistics, the extent to which a result is unlikely to have occurred by chance; symbolic or implied meaning in various contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can denote both importance and meaning; context-dependent, e.g., 'historical significance' (importance) vs. 'statistical significance' (probability).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning; slight variations in pronunciation (e.g., vowel quality) and slightly higher frequency in American English in statistical contexts.
Connotations
Equally formal in both varieties; in everyday speech, might be perceived as more scholarly.
Frequency
More common in American English in academic and technical writing, particularly in statistics.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
significance of [noun]significance for [noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “of no small significance”
- “take on significance”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The significance of quarterly reports influences investor decisions.
Academic
The study emphasized the significance of peer review in research.
Everyday
What's the significance of wearing black to the event?
Technical
In cryptography, the significance of key length is paramount for security.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He signified his consent by signing the document.
American English
- She signified her agreement with a thumbs-up.
adverb
British English
- Their profits increased significantly last year.
American English
- The temperature dropped significantly overnight.
adjective
British English
- The findings had a significant effect on policy.
American English
- The data showed a significant difference between groups.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The significance of a red light is that you must stop.
- We discussed the significance of recycling for the environment.
- The archaeological significance of the ruins attracts many scholars.
- The meta-analysis confirmed the statistical significance of the intervention across studies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'sign' in significance: like a signpost, it points to importance or meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS WEIGHT or MEANING IS A SIGN
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing with 'значение' which can mean both 'meaning' and 'significance', leading to overuse in contexts where 'importance' is sufficient.
- Mistaking 'significance' for 'важность' without the nuanced connotation of implied meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /saɪnɪfɪkəns/ (incorrect stress or vowel)
- Using 'significance' in overly casual speech where 'importance' or 'point' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'significance' primarily express in most contexts?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While common in formal and academic contexts, it can be used in everyday speech, though alternatives like 'importance' may be more frequent in casual conversation.
'Significance' often implies importance or consequence in addition to meaning, whereas 'meaning' focuses more on definition or interpretation.
In statistics, the p-value measures statistical significance, indicating the probability that observed results occurred by chance; a low p-value suggests significant findings.
No, 'significance' is a noun; the related verb is 'signify', meaning to indicate or represent.
Collections
Part of a collection
Abstract Thinking
B2 · 49 words · Words for ideas, reasoning and intellectual concepts.
Science and Research
B2 · 43 words · Academic and scientific research methodology.
Critical Thinking
C1 · 49 words · Vocabulary for structured logical reasoning and analysis.
Scientific Terminology
C1 · 44 words · Precise vocabulary used in scientific disciplines.