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Glite Dictionary
significative

significative

9.7
Showing clearly that something is true or important
  • adjective
  • /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkətɪv/
  • Formal
translation icon : significativo
  • The teacher provided a significative explanation that clarified the difficult concept for the students.

But this, this movement, this transition to language itself is incredibly significative.

Examples

  • The skull by itself does not give you any sort of significative gesture or look.

  • The sacrament offered still signifies the saving action of God in Christ in the Church, but not as concretely significative, and therefore effective and sacramental for this subject.

    Academic text (1991)

  • And then it becomes a significative evocative.

  • We recognize, however, that the text is infiltrated together with it by the subject of the recipient, thus of something specific and consciously reductive for the identity of a literary work, existing only as significative action.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Perhaps in one case, that opposing autonomous subjectivity to intersubjective culture, Dvorak most closely approached a culturally integrative model for significative formation in history.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Her speech was significative, pointing out the importance of community service in today's society.

  • The painting is significative of the artist's unique style and message about environmental issues.

Synonyms

significant
vssignificative
69 4.9

Having a hidden meaning often shown by a look or pause

directly points out or indicates meaning instead of hinting indirectly
indicative
vssignificative
64 4.7

Showing a sign that something is happening

is more formal and explicit rather than merely suggesting
revelatory
vssignificative
9 7.3

Showing facts people did not know before

only signals or points out rather than revealing unknown facts
significatory
vssignificative
9.7

Showing or pointing to a meaning

is formal and shows something clearly rather than being general
ostensive
vssignificative
  • Specialized
9.8

Showing something by pointing or giving an example to make it clear

is a formal indicator that points things out without full demonstration

How Indicative

conclusive
65 4.8
telling
4.4
revealing
38 4.0
significative
  • Formal
9.7
indicative
64 4.7
suggestive
18 5.2

Surface Forms

significative positive

Morphology

significative = signify (semi-transparent) = signific + ative

The adjective is formed by suffixation from the verb 'signify' (via the stem 'signific-'), but the altered stem and formal register may confuse learners or be misread as 'significant'.

Etymology

Significative comes from the Latin significare, which means 'to make a sign', and from signum, which means 'sign', just like the everyday English words sign or signal. So, something significative is meant to 'show' or 'point out' something clearly, and that is why we use it for things that give a clear sign or meaning.