significant

adjective

sig·nif·i·cant | \ sig-ˈni-fi-kənt

Definition of significant

1 : having meaning especially : suggestive a significant glance

2a : having or likely to have influence or effect : important a significant piece of legislation also : of a noticeably or measurably large amount a significant number of layoffs producing significant profits

b : probably caused by something other than mere chance statistically significant correlation between vitamin deficiency and disease

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Examples of significant in a Sentence

Historians of ancient gender have seen this as crucially significant. Women in antiquity were by definition so disempowered that the authority of a new female ruler could only be captured by representing her in the guise of a man. Or so the argument goes. — Mary Beard, New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2009 While Congress will take a significant role in designing new regulation and is not likely to rubber-stamp the administration's proposals, momentum is strong for the creation of comprehensive financial reform. — Marc I. Seltzer et al., Commonweal, 19 June 2009 A new study on women and the media from the University of Missouri-Columbia shows that overweight women and women with eating disorders are not the only ones negatively affected by unrealistic advertisements (as previous studies have indicated). After viewing images of models, women of all sizes reported a significant decrease in satisfaction with their weight, hair, physical shape and sexual attractiveness. — Ms., Summer 2007 One of [Charles] Darwin's most extraordinary qualities was his ability to recognize when a scientific question could not be answered because of the limitations of the science of his day. He knew, for instance, that during his lifetime, no significant progress would be made on the question of how life began. — Amy Stewart, Wilson Quarterly, Winter 2004 A significant number of customers complained about the service. He won a significant amount of money. There is a significant difference in prices between the two stores. The study found a statistically significant decrease in symptoms in patients who had taken the drug. a significant event in the history of our nation Fish is a significant part of their diet. It is significant that she never mentioned him. He gave us a significant wink.

Recent Examples on the Web

In response to this, the OEHHA proposed a regulation last June stating that coffee consumption does not pose a significant cancer risk. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Kylie Jenner's Favorite Brand Fashion Nova Cautions That Their Swimsuits May Cause Cancer," 30 Apr. 2019 Such an order would primarily impact Huawei and ZTE — both Chinese companies, and two of the largest manufacturers of telecom equipment — and have a significant impact on the ongoing rollout of 5G network infrastructure. — Russell Brandom, The Verge, "New Trump order may officially ban Huawei and ZTE from 5G rollout, per report," 27 Dec. 2018 Through her unexpected journey to kitchen stardom, the 71-year-old has amassed a significant net worth. — Megan Friedman, Country Living, "Ina Garten's Net Worth Is Seriously Impressive," 18 Apr. 2019 For instance, memory and nostalgia play significant roles in Nadia’s life as well as Maxine’s. — Candice Frederick, Harper's BAZAAR, "Russian Doll's Greta Lee Is the Best Friend You Always Wanted," 13 Apr. 2019 Kids who rarely or never have to face significant challenges, experience the sting of failure, or navigate a bumpy journey are likely to become less resilient, less confident, and more anxious. — Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, "What Is Lawnmower Parenting? Experts Say It Frequently Backfires," 11 Apr. 2019 The baseline model of Microsoft’s stunning Surface Book 2 just received a significant bump in power, thanks to Intel. — Brad Chacos, PCWorld, "Microsoft's Surface Book 2 gains a faster quad-core Core i5 CPU over the weekend," 1 Apr. 2019 Overall, aneurysms are incredibly serious and come with a significant risk for death or serious complications. — Korin Miller, SELF, "'Game of Thrones' Star Emilia Clarke Reveals She Survived 2 Aneurysms," 22 Mar. 2019 Temperature regulation is a significant factor in each of the two types of insomnia. — Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, "Studies Show Sleeping in a Cold Room is Actually Better for Your Health," 19 Mar. 2019

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