insignificant
gb/ˌɪnsɪɡnjˈɪfɪkənt/ us/ˌɪnsɪɡnjˈɪfɪkənt/
B2
Inglés
~ 6300
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
B2
property
1
Not important or influential
Not important enough to matter or to change something.
Patrón de uso:
[something] is insignificant
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "insignificant" when they mean "small" in a physical sense, even if the thing is still important. Use "insignificant" when the size, effect, or importance is too low to really matter, not just when something is physically small.
Sinónimos
unimportant (More direct and common; slightly less formal than "insignificant".)
|
trivial (Suggests something is not only unimportant but almost silly or not worth thinking about.)
|
negligible (Often used in more formal or technical contexts; stresses that something can be safely ignored.)
Antónimos
significant (Direct opposite; means important or having a noticeable effect.)
|
important (General opposite; widely used in everyday speech.)
Colocaciones
an insignificant detail
|seem insignificant
|largely insignificant
|relatively insignificant
|politically insignificant
|socially insignificant
Temas
evaluation
|work
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The typo was insignificant and did not change the meaning of the contract.
- Compared with the overall budget, this cost is insignificant.
- He played an insignificant role in the negotiations.
- The delay was insignificant, so we decided not to complain.
- At the time the problem seemed insignificant, but later it became serious.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- My mistake was insignificant, so the teacher did not get angry.
- The noise outside was insignificant and did not bother us.
- This question is insignificant for the final result.
- The change in price is insignificant for most customers.
- Her comment was insignificant and everyone soon forgot it.
adjective
B2
property
2
Very small in size or amount
Very small in number, size, or level, so that it is almost not worth thinking about.
Patrón de uso:
an insignificant amount of [something]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use "insignificant" when they simply mean "small" without the idea that it can be ignored. If the small amount still matters (for example, a small but dangerous dose of a drug), "insignificant" is not appropriate.
Sinónimos
minimal (Focuses on the amount being the smallest possible; often neutral or technical.)
|
tiny (More informal and visual; stresses small physical size rather than importance.)
Antónimos
substantial (Stresses a large or considerable amount, often with the idea that it matters.)
|
considerable (Suggests a fairly large amount that draws attention.)
Colocaciones
an insignificant amount
|insignificant sum
|insignificant increase
|insignificant risk
|insignificant difference
|insignificant change
Temas
measurement
|finance
|science
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- They bought the company for an insignificant sum compared to its true value.
- The difference in performance between the two phones is insignificant.
- The new tax will only add an insignificant cost to most products.
- There was an insignificant increase in temperature overnight.
- This medicine carries an insignificant risk of serious side effects.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- We paid an insignificant fee to use the pool.
- There is only an insignificant amount of sugar in this drink.
- The change in his weight was insignificant after one week.
- The two test scores show an insignificant difference.
- She made only an insignificant profit from the sale.
adjective
B2
property
3
Feeling small or unimportant
Feeling or being seen as not important, especially when you compare yourself with others or with something very big.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] feels insignificant
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse "insignificant" with "insecure." "Insignificant" is about being or feeling unimportant; "insecure" is about not feeling safe or confident. A person can feel insecure even if they are important.
Sinónimos
worthless (Much stronger and more emotional; suggests having no value at all, often used about feelings of depression or low self-esteem.)
|
unnoticed (Focuses on not being seen rather than on lack of importance, but often overlaps in feeling.)
Antónimos
important (Describes someone who has status, power, or a strong effect on others.)
|
valued (Focuses on being appreciated and seen as important by others.)
Colocaciones
feel insignificant
|seem insignificant
|small and insignificant
|an insignificant person
|insignificant in comparison
Temas
emotions
|self-image
|society
|relationships
Ejemplos
- Standing under the night sky, she suddenly felt small and insignificant.
- As a junior employee, he often felt insignificant in the large company.
- The huge city made their village seem insignificant.
- Next to his famous parents, he sometimes felt insignificant.
- In the history books, ordinary people like us are treated as insignificant.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- When I am in a big crowd, I feel insignificant.
- He felt insignificant next to his successful friends.
- The tall buildings made the people look insignificant.
- She thinks her problems are insignificant compared to his.
- In that big company, I was just an insignificant worker.
adjective
technical
C1
property
4
Not statistically significant
In statistics, too small or weak to show that something is real and not just random chance.
Patrón de uso:
a statistically insignificant [result]
Error frecuente:
Learners may think "statistically insignificant" means "not interesting" or "not useful." In statistics it has a specific technical meaning: the data do not clearly show a real effect beyond random chance, even if the topic is important.
Sinónimos
non-significant (Technical term used in statistical writing; interchangeable in this context.)
Antónimos
statistically significant (Means the result is strong enough that it is unlikely to be due to chance.)
Colocaciones
statistically insignificant
|insignificant correlation
|insignificant effect
|insignificant result
|insignificant difference
Temas
science
|statistics
|research
|academia
|education
Ejemplos
- The study found an insignificant difference between the two treatment groups.
- At the 5% level, the effect of the drug was statistically insignificant.
- The correlation between the variables was small and statistically insignificant.
- After controlling for age and income, the gender effect became insignificant.
- Because the sample size was low, many results were insignificant.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The test showed an insignificant change in blood pressure.
- Their results were statistically insignificant, so they could not make strong claims.
- The small group of people made the data insignificant for the study.
- In this experiment, the difference is insignificant, so it may be just chance.
- The researchers called the effect insignificant in their report.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
insignificant
AFI
GB/ˌɪnsɪɡnjˈɪfɪkənt/
US/ˌɪnsɪɡnjˈɪfɪkənt/
Sílabas y acento
in - sig - ni - fic - ant (5 sílabas)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ni)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: insignificant
Familia de palabras
Core family
Related words
signify
verb B2
Negative and opposite forms
insignificance
noun
insignificantly
adverb
Advanced or less common
signification
noun
Expresiones
insignificant other
1/ˌɪnsɪɡnjˈɪfɪkənt ˈʌðɚ/
idiom
informal
Casual or unimportant partner
A joking or ironic way to talk about a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner who is not very important to you, or to make fun of the phrase "significant other."
Ejemplos
- He joked that he would bring his insignificant other to the office party.
- She calls her on‑again, off‑again boyfriend her "insignificant other."
- The comedian made a joke about spending Valentine's Day with his insignificant other: his cat.
statistically insignificant
1/stətˈɪstɪkli ˌɪnsɪɡnjˈɪfɪkənt/
fixed phrase
technical
Not meaningful in statistics
Used when study results are too weak to show a real effect and may be only random chance.
Ejemplos
- The increase in test scores was statistically insignificant.
- Because the sample size was small, most of their findings were statistically insignificant.
- The researchers reported that the difference between the groups was statistically insignificant.