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Substantial vs Significant - What's the difference?

substantial | significant |

As adjectives the difference between substantial and significant

is that substantial is having to substance; actually existing; real; as, substantial life while significant is signifying something; carrying meaning.

As nouns the difference between substantial and significant

is that substantial is anything having substance; an essential part while significant is that which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol.

substantial

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having to substance; actually existing; real; as, substantial life.
  • Not seeming or imaginary; not illusive; real; solid; true; veritable.
  • * "to do some substantial good, is the compensation for much incidental imperfection" - Cardinal Newman, The Rise and Progress of Universities
  • Corporeal; material; firm.
  • Having good substance; strong; stout; solid; firm; as, substantial cloth; a substantial fence or wall.
  • possessed of goods or an estate; moderately wealthy; responsible; as, a substantial freeholder.
  • Large in size, quantity, or value; as, a substantial amount of money; vast
  • Most important; essential.
  • Ample or full.
    • A substantial amount of people in this buliding
  • Significantly great.

    • Derived terms

    * consubstantial * insubstantial * substantiality * substantially * substantialness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Anything having substance; an essential part.

    • significant

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Signifying something; carrying meaning.
    • a significant''' word or sound; a '''significant look
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
    • It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant , but not efficient.
  • Having a covert or hidden meaning.
  • Having a noticeable or major effect; notable.
    • That was a significant step in the right direction.
    The First World War was a significant event.
  • Reasonably large in number or amount.
  • (statistics) Having a low probability of occurring by chance (for example, having high correlation and thus likely to be related).

    • Related terms

    * significance * significant other * signify

    Synonyms

    * important

    Antonyms

    * insignificant * ignorable * negligible * slight

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol.
    • (Wordsworth)
  • * Shakespeare
    • In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts.
    (Webster 1913) ----