Skip to main content
insignificant

insignificant

104 4.1
Not important or too small to matter
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪnˈsɪɡnɪfɪkənt/
translation icon : insignificante
  • I know what it's like to feel small and insignificant.
  • seem insignificant
  • an insignificant detail
  • insignificant differences

Never treat someone as if they're insignificant or if they don't matter.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • I would go because, like, we're so insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

  • You are insignificant in the great scheme of things.

  • So these are not insignificant players in the market.

  • This ended up taking not an an insignificant amount of time.

  • But even if they were, they would not be insignificant to the human species.

    Academic text (1992)
  • It's not time to be paying attention to something so insignificant.

  • If you look up, you realise how insignificant you are.

  • At a time so crucial, even seemingly insignificant actions may shape the future.

    Academic text (1990)
  • At independence in 1960, indigenous private capital had a tenuous and insignificant position in the economy.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The amount of money spent on welfare is insignificant compared to the huge farm subsidies.

Synonyms

little
vsinsignificant
1.0

Not very important

is the neutral formal expression for low importance or size
small
vsinsignificant
1.0

Not large in size or amount

is about lacking importance specifically rather than mere size
minor
vsinsignificant
600 2.4

Not very important or serious

describes being unimportant without implying direct comparison
slight
vsinsignificant
594 1.2

Small in amount or degree

means low importance because it has little effect
irrelevant
vsinsignificant
355 3.6

Not related to the subject people are discussing or to the main point

is about being unimportant because of low influence or size
meaningless
vsinsignificant
226 5.1

Having no meaning, value, or purpose

is about low importance rather than complete lack of meaning
trivial
vsinsignificant
121 3.9

Not important or serious

is broader, covering lack of influence or effect rather than just value
unimportant
vsinsignificant
54 1.9

Not worth attention or notice

highlights smallness or low influence rather than noticeability
small-time
vsinsignificant
47 5.9

Not important and not well known, often used for people or small businesses

is the plain idea of being unimportant without tone
negligible
vsinsignificant
31 5.6

Very small or unimportant and not worth worrying about

applies more widely to low effect or influence
inconsequential
vsinsignificant
29 7.7

Not important and not likely to make a difference

is the general idea of being too small to matter
immaterial
vsinsignificant
19 7.2

Not important or relevant to a situation

focuses on smallness or low influence rather than context relevance
dinky
vsinsignificant
  • Informal
6 7.2

Small and not very impressive or valuable

relates to low importance by influence rather than appearance
inconsiderable
vsinsignificant
3 6.8

Too small or not important enough to matter

is the broader sense of having little value or effect
no-count
vsinsignificant
  • Offensive
1 8.9

A person or thing that others see as worthless

is the neutral idea of being unimportant without insult
nonsignificant
vsinsignificant
  • Specialized
1 6.0

Not important because it may be due to chance or too small to matter

applies to lack of importance in general situations
inessential
vsinsignificant
1 5.5

A thing you do not need and can leave behind

covers general low importance or lack of influence
piffling
vsinsignificant
1 8.6

Too small or not important to matter

means lacking importance but may be used more neutrally
inconsequent
vsinsignificant
9.1

Not important or serious compared with other things

focuses on being unimportant because it has little effect
inappreciable
vsinsignificant
9.2

Too small to notice or to change anything

is the broader idea of having little influence or value
unmomentous
vsinsignificant
6.8

Not important and having little effect on events

refers more generally to low importance or influence
nonpertinent
vsinsignificant
6.9

Not related to what is being discussed

is the general lack of importance regardless of topic relation
immaterial to (someone)
vsinsignificant
7.1

A fact or detail that does not matter to someone

is the general idea of being unimportant for anyone
peanut
vsinsignificant
  • Informal
7.0

Not very important or powerful

is the general term for low importance without slang tone
matterless
vsinsignificant
7.9

Not important or worth worrying about

is the broader concept of being too small or unimportant

Antonyms

2.5

Important and big enough to make a difference

37 4.2

Worth paying attention to because it is important or interesting

How Important

crucial
469 3.6
important
1.0
significant
2.5
minor
600 2.4
insignificant
104 4.1
negligible
31 5.6

Surface Forms

insignificant positive
insignificanter comparative
insignificantest superlative

Morphology

insignificant = significant (transparent) = in + signific + ant

For learners who know 'significant', the negative prefix 'in-' straightforwardly gives the meaning 'not significant'.

Etymology

The word insignificant is made of in- 'not' and sign-, the same root you see in sign and signal, which means 'mark' or 'importance'. So something insignificant is 'not marked', that is, not important or too small to matter.