significance

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noun sig·nif·i·cance \ sig-ˈni-fi-kən(t)s \

Definition of significance

1 a :something that is conveyed as a meaning often obscurely or indirectly

b :the quality of conveying or implying

2 a :the quality of being important :moment

b :the quality of being statistically significant

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See significance defined for kids

Examples of significance in a Sentence

The discovery has great significance to researchers.
His age is of little significance.
This building should be preserved because of its historical significance.
Does the ceremony have any religious significance?
Her work has a significance that will last beyond her lifetime.
I failed to understand the significance of her remarks.
Does the date March 16 have some special significance to you?
People in ancient times assigned a particular significance to the number seven.

Recent Examples of significance from the Web

His chic, minimalist clothes were worn by Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, and Elizabeth Taylor, and his friendship with Minnelli, a defining one for the period, held special significance for Bazaar.

— stephen mooallem, Harper's BAZAAR, "Free Love and Fashion," 18 Aug. 2017
On the significance of one particular design: RF: The quarter-zip rugby is a personal favorite.

— jonathan evans, Esquire, "Why the Kith x Coca-Cola Collaboration Is a Summer Style No-Brainer," 11 Aug. 2017
Other projects the cabinet ranked but aren't of statewide significance: Adding more turn lanes between Houston Road and U.S. 42.

— sarah brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "Which project matters more: I-471 lane expansion or Brent Spence Bridge replacement?," 7 Aug. 2017
The advantages, Hancock argued, include protecting the significance of regular-season games.

— bryce miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Long, Aztecs smartly sneak peek down college football road," 20 July 2017
As such gruesome scenes unfolded around his bed, China and the rest of the world began to debate his significance and legacy.

— The Economist, "A Nobel laureate’s fateLiu Xiaobo, China’s best-known political prisoner, has died," 15 July 2017
But Mansy himself is cautious about the new work’s significance.

— roland pease, Science | AAAS, "How sunlight might have jump-started life on Earth," 12 July 2017
If she hasn’t seen him since then, but seems to understand the significance of this phrase, what dark deeds have been cooking on the back burner all these years?

— vanityfair.com, "Twin Peaks: 10 Easter Eggs, References, and Callbacks You Might Have Missed in Part 9," 10 July 2017
Two of the gardens are Cincinnati Horticulture Society Award winners, and another home has historical significance by its inclusion in the National Park System’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Trail.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Clermont County Roundup: Technology glitch, rowers, garden tours and more," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'significance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of significance

14th century

significance Synonyms

Synonyms

content, denotation, drift, import, intent, intention, purport, sense, meaning, signification

Antonyms

insignificance, littleness, puniness, slightness, smallness, triviality

Related Words

connotation; clue, cue, hint, implication, indication, inkling, intimation, suggestion; message, tenor, theme; bottom, essence, essentiality, nature, soul, spirit, stuff; acceptance, acceptation, definition; burden, crux, gist; core, heart, kernel, marrow, nub, nucleus, pith, point, quick; matter, motif, motive, question, subject, topic

Near Antonyms

paltriness, pettiness, valuelessness, worthlessness; discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, ignominy, infamy, odium, opprobrium, shame; anonymity; obscurity

Synonym Discussion of significance

importance, consequence, moment, weight, significance mean a quality or aspect having great worth or significance. importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.