significant
UK: sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt | US: sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt
adj. having great meaning or importance
adj. statistically meaningful or notable
adj. expressive or suggestive (e.g., a significant glance)
Derived from Latin significare ("to show by signs"), combining signum (mark) and facere (to make). The morpheme sign preserves its core meaning of "indication," while fic (from facere) implies action. Over time, significant evolved from "making a mark" to conveying importance or expressiveness, reflecting how visible signs often carry weight.
The discovery of penicillin was a significant breakthrough in medicine.
Her silence during the meeting was highly significant.
The study found no significant difference between the two groups.
He gave her a significant look before leaving the room.
Climate change has significant implications for global agriculture.