significance

importance

Le poids de quelque chose et son influence sur les personnes ou les événements.

En anglais simple : How much something matters or affects people or events.

• This date has special significance.
• Nobody realized the significance of the discovery at first.
• The building has great historical significance.

Comment l'utiliser : significance of something (We understand the significance of this discovery.); of significance to someone/something (The result is of significance to everyone in the town.)

Synonymes : importance, weight

Contraires : insignificance

Expressions courantes : great significance, historical significance, significance of something

signification, sens

Ce qu’un mot, un geste, un signe ou un événement exprime ou laisse comprendre.

En anglais simple : The meaning of a word, action, sign, or event, including what it suggests.

• What is the significance of this symbol?
• She missed the significance of his smile.
• His silence had a significance that only she understood.

Comment l'utiliser : significance of something (What is the significance of that gesture?)

Synonymes : meaning, sense

Expressions courantes : hidden significance, significance of something, symbolic significance