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Definition of significant adjective from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

        

    significant

     adjective
    adjective
    NAmE//sɪɡˈnɪfəkənt//
     
     
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  1. 1large or important enough to have an effect or to be noticed a highly significant discovery The results of the experiment are not statistically significant. There are no significant differences between the two groups of students. Your work has shown a significant improvement. These views are held by a significant proportion of the population. It is significant that girls generally do better on examinations than boys. The drug has had no significant effect on stopping the spread of the disease. compare insignificant
  2. 2having a particular meaning It is significant that he changed his will only days before his death.
  3. 3[usually before noun] having a special or secret meaning that is not understood by everyone synonym meaningful a significant look/smile
AWL Collocationssignificantsignificant adjectiveimportant; so large that you notice it
  • change, difference, effect, impact, improvement, increase, reduction
  • contribution
  • correlation
There were significant climatic differences, including an unusually wet season followed by dry seasons.
  • statistically
It is necessary to carry out a trial on a statistically significant number of individuals.
  • highly
The museum owns highly significant and valuable works.
  • culturally, economically, historically, morally, politically, socially
The collection includes historically significant letters from American presidents.
  • prove
The research could prove significant in medical and biotechnology fields.insignificant adjective
  • detail
  • decrease, difference, increase
I will return to these apparently insignificant details in the last section of this paper.
  • statistically
The small sample size is statistically insignificant.
  • apparently, seemingly
  • relatively
Seemingly insignificant scratches in glass may cause breakage.significance noun
  • statistical
In the test, high variability resulted in a lack of statistical significance.
  • assess
  • grasp
  • downplay, underestimate
There are two very different ways to assess the broader significance of these events.significantly adverbin a noticeable way
  • differ, vary
Actual markets differ significantly from perfectly competitive markets.
  • lower (than)
Significantly lower numbers of seals were observed at low tide.See significant in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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