🎓 Study English中文版
What does “significant” mean?
significant
/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
＝ important, or large enough to matter
A very common word in essays, reports and journal papers. In everyday use it means important or noticeable. In research, “statistically significant” has a special meaning: the result is unlikely to be due to chance. It does not mean “big”.
In plain English
Significant comes from “sign”: something that leaves a mark, big enough that people notice it.
It usually describes things, changes, numbers and effects: a significant increase, a significant role. We do not normally use it to describe a person directly.
Be careful when reading research: statistically significant means the difference is unlikely to be a coincidence, but the difference itself can be small.
6 meanings of significant
- significant, meaning importantimportant; having a big effect or meaningAcademic writing
The Basic Law plays a significant role in Hong Kong.
- significant, meaning large enough to notice(of an amount or change) large enough to noticeCommon
There was a significant increase in youth unemployment in 2023.
- statistically significant(in research) unlikely to have happened by chanceResearch
The difference between the two groups was statistically significant.
- significantlyby a large or noticeable amountAcademic writing
Screen time significantly affects sleep quality.
- significanceimportance or meaningAcademic writing
Explain the historical significance of the 1967 riots.
- a significant otheryour partner, boyfriend, girlfriend or spouseEveryday
You can bring your significant other to the hall dinner.
Sentence patterns
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| a significant increase / decrease / drop in sth | The survey shows a significant drop in reading time among teenagers. |
| play a significant role in sth | Social media plays a significant role in how students get news. |
| have a significant impact / effect on sth | Tutorial attendance had a significant effect on final grades. |
| significantly higher / lower than sth | Rents in Hong Kong are significantly higher than in Taipei. |
| it is significant that… | It is significant that none of the interviewees mentioned cost. |
Real-life examples
🔬 Reading the results section of a journal paper
Kelvin: The paper says the result is significant. So the effect is huge?
Tutor: Not necessarily. Statistically significant means it is unlikely to be chance. Check the effect size too.
📝 A DSE Citizenship and Social Development source question
Source A shows a significant rise in the number of elderly people living alone, which puts pressure on community services.
👥 Planning a group project
Mandy: Should we include the 2019 data?
Ivan: Yes, the change since then is too significant to ignore.
Common mistakes
✗ This is a very significant important issue.
✓ This is a very significant issue. / This is a very important issue.
“Significant” and “important” mean almost the same, so choose one. Do not stack them.
✗ Mr Chan is a significant teacher in my life.
✓ Mr Chan has had a significant influence on my life.
For people, “significant” usually describes their influence, role or contribution, not the person directly.
✗ The price increased significant.
✓ The price increased significantly.
To describe a verb like “increased”, use the adverb “significantly”.
✗ The result was significant, so the new teaching method is much better.
✓ The result was statistically significant, although the improvement was small.
In research, “significant” only means unlikely to be chance. It does not mean the difference is large, so do not exaggerate.
Before and after ✨
A paragraph from a DSE argumentative essay, rewritten with Dictionify’s Polish: removed words are crossed out and new words are highlighted.
Nowadays, smartphone is very significant important to teenagers. Many survey shows that teenagers use phone more significant than before, it has a significance impact to their study.
Nowadays, smartphone is very Smartphones have become a significant important to teenagers. Many survey shows part of teenagers’ lives. Several surveys show that teenagers use phone now spend significantly more significant time on their phones than before, it and this has had a significance significant impact to on their study. studies.
- very significant important → a significant part of teenagers’ lives: remove the repeated “important” and say how it matters.
- use phone more significant → spend significantly more time: use the adverb “significantly” before “more”.
- a significance impact to → a significant impact on: the adjective is “significant”; “significance” is a noun. Also, “impact” goes with “on”, not “to”.
Similar and opposite phrases
| Phrase | Meaning | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| important | mattering a lot | The everyday word. “Significant” is more academic and often suggests something you can measure or see. |
| considerable | fairly large in size or amount | Only about size or amount, e.g. a considerable amount of time. It does not mean important. |
| substantial | large and real | Stresses a solid, real amount. Common with money, evidence and change. |
| notable | worth noticing or mentioning | Stresses that something stands out. It does not have to be big. |
Opposite: insignificant (too small or unimportant to matter); negligible (so small that you can ignore it)
Quick quiz
Pick an answer to check it straight away.
Which sentence is correct?
Answer: B. To describe the verb “rose”, use the adverb “significantly”.
A paper says “The difference was statistically significant.” This most accurately means…
Answer: A. “Statistically significant” only means the result is unlikely to be a coincidence. The difference can be big or small.
Which sentence fits best in an essay?
Answer: C. “Significant” works best with impacts, changes and roles, and “impact” goes with “on”.
FAQ
“Significant” vs “important”: what is the difference?
“Important” is the general word. “Significant” is more academic and often adds the idea of being noticeable or measurable, as in “a significant increase”. Using both in turn avoids repetition in an essay, but never put them together.
Can I use “significantly” instead of “very”?
Not always. “Significantly” mostly goes with comparisons and changes: significantly higher, significantly improved. We do not say “significantly happy”. Before ordinary adjectives, keep “very” or “extremely”.
Can I call my results “significant” in a lab report?
Be careful. In science, readers will assume you mean statistically significant and that you ran a statistical test. If the difference just looks big, write “a noticeable difference” or “a clear difference”.
What does “significant other” mean?
It means your partner: a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife. It is relaxed and neutral, common in invitations and conversation, but not used in academic writing.
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