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Insignificant: meaning, definitions and examples

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insignificant

 

[ˌɪn.sɪɡˈnɪf.ɪ.kənt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

feeling of no importance

Feeling small, unimportant, or unworthy in comparison to others.

Synonyms

negligible, unimportant.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
insignificant

Use to describe something that is too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.

  • The difference between the two options is insignificant.
  • His contribution to the project was insignificant.
unimportant

Best for indicating that something lacks importance or value.

  • The details he provided were unimportant.
  • Don't worry about the unimportant issues.
negligible

Suitable for describing something so small or unimportant that it can be safely ignored.

  • The cost of the additional equipment is negligible.
  • The risk of error in this calculation is negligible.

Examples of usage

  • She felt insignificant in the presence of the famous author.
  • His achievements were dismissed as insignificant by his peers.
Context #2 | Adjective

small or trivial

Small or trivial in quantity, value, or importance.

Synonyms

minor, negligible, trivial.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
insignificant

Use when describing something that lacks importance or weight and doesn't have much impact on the overall picture. It often carries a slightly dismissive tone.

  • The error in the document was insignificant and did not affect the final outcome
  • Her contributions were considered insignificant by the team
trivial

Refers to something that is very unimportant or of little value. Often used to emphasize that something is not worth consideration.

  • They spent hours discussing trivial matters while the main issue remained unsolved
  • Many of his complaints were deemed trivial by the manager
minor

Best used when referring to something that is smaller in importance or less severe in comparison to other things. It can imply there are more important issues at hand.

  • She suffered only minor injuries in the accident
  • The argument they had was over a very minor issue
negligible

Appropriate when describing something so small or unimportant that it can be practically disregarded. Often used in technical or formal contexts.

  • The financial loss from the project was negligible compared to the total budget
  • The risk of side effects is negligible according to the study

Examples of usage

  • The amount of money they offered was insignificant compared to what was needed.
  • The error in the report was insignificant and easily corrected.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word originates from the Latin 'insignificans', which means 'not representing' or 'not distinguished'.
  • It combines the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'significant', a word derived from 'significare', meaning 'to signify' or 'to indicate'.

Science

  • In statistics, an 'insignificant' result implies that there is no meaningful effect or difference observed in experimental data.
  • In astrophysics, certain objects or phenomena may be deemed insignificant in the context of larger, dominating forces like black holes or stars.

Psychology

  • People may often feel insignificant in large social settings, impacting their self-esteem and increasing feelings of isolation.
  • The 'insignificance effect' can occur where individuals downplay their contributions or existence in situations perceived as greater.

Culture

  • In literature, characters may feel insignificant in a world that doesn’t acknowledge their struggles, reflecting themes of existential angst.
  • Various films depict protagonists overcoming feelings of insignificance to discover personal worth and impact, promoting a narrative of self-discovery.

Philosophy

  • Debates around existentialism often focus on the concept of insignificance in the grand scheme of the universe and the search for meaning.
  • Some philosophical views propose that recognizing one’s insignificance can lead to a sense of liberation and acceptance.

Translations

Translations of the word "insignificant" in other languages:

🇵🇹 insignificante

🇮🇳 महत्वहीन

🇩🇪 unbedeutend

🇮🇩 tidak signifikan

🇺🇦 незначний

🇵🇱 nieistotny

🇯🇵 取るに足らない

🇫🇷 insignifiant

🇪🇸 insignificante

🇹🇷 önemsiz

🇰🇷 사소한

🇸🇦 غير مهم

🇨🇿 nepodstatný

🇸🇰 nepodstatný

🇨🇳 无关紧要的

🇸🇮 nepomemben

🇮🇸 ómerkilegur

🇰🇿 маңызы жоқ

🇬🇪 უმნიშვნელო

🇦🇿 əhəmiyyətsiz

🇲🇽 insignificante

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,897 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.