What Does ‘Significant’ Mean? SAT Vocabulary Explained
Learn the meaning, usage, and importance of the word ‘significant’ for your SAT exam. This video covers the definition, word type, history, synonyms, antonyms, and common usage errors of this crucial vocabulary term.
Imagine you’re about to take a life-changing exam. Your heart is racing, palms are sweaty, and you know the results will be significant.
But what exactly does significant mean, and why is it an important word to know for your SAT?
Word type:
Significant is an adjective.
Meaning: Significant means important, notable, or of consequence. It describes something that is meaningful enough to be worthy of attention or has a noticeable effect.
In statistics, it refers to a result that is probably not due to chance.
Word history: The word significant comes from the Latin significans, which means indicating or expressing.
It entered the English language in the early fifteenth century, originally meaning expressive or full of meaning.
Over time, its usage evolved to encompass the idea of importance or noteworthiness.
Antonyms: Some antonyms of significant include insignificant, trivial, unimportant, and negligible.
Synonyms: Synonyms for significant include important, consequential, substantial, momentous, and considerable.
Examples use in sentences: The discovery of penicillin was a significant breakthrough in medical science.
The difference in test scores between the two groups was statistically significant. Her significant contributions to the project earned her a promotion.
Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing significant with signified. While significant is an adjective meaning important, signified is a verb meaning indicated or represented by a sign.
Another error is using significant when insignificant is meant, which can completely change the intended meaning of a sentence.
Understanding the word significant is, well, significant for your SAT success. It’s a versatile word that can describe importance in various contexts, from personal achievements to scientific discoveries.
As you continue to expand your vocabulary, remember that each word you learn brings you one step closer to achieving a significant score on your SAT.
Keep studying, and soon you’ll see the significant impact of your hard work.
