insignificant

[in-sig-nif-i-kuhnt]

adjective

1. unimportant, trifling, or petty.

   Omit the insignificant details.

2. too small to be important.

   an insignificant sum.

   Synonyms: picayune, minuscule, minute, trifling

3. of no consequence, influence, or distinction.

   a minor, insignificant bureaucrat.

4. without weight of character; contemptible.

   an insignificant fellow.

5. without meaning; meaningless.

   insignificant sounds.

noun

1. a word, thing, or person without significance.

insignificant

/ ˌɪnsɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt /

adjective

1. having little or no importance; trifling

2. almost or relatively meaningless

3. small or inadequate

   an insignificant wage

4. not distinctive in character, etc

Other Word Forms

• insignificance noun
• insignificantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of insignificant¹

First recorded in 1620–30; in- ³ + significant

Example Sentences

John Adams, the nation’s first vice president, declared the position to be “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived, or his imagination conceived.”

From Salon

As the judge in that case noted, the law is not concerned with insignificant trifles.

From Los Angeles Times

The fundraising effort, he said, is “not insignificant... considering the 90-day sprint.”

From Los Angeles Times

These are slim margins, but not insignificant ones.

From BBC

It was the theft of her pride - and the comfort of belonging to a place - that hurt her the most, making her feel absurdly insignificant.

From BBC

Related Words

• inconsequential 
• infinitesimal 
• irrelevant 
• meager 
• meaningless 
• minimal 
• minor 
• minuscule 
• negligible 
• paltry 
• pointless 
• senseless 
• trivial 
• unimportant