meaningful

[mee-ning-fuhl]

adjective

1. full of meaning, significance, purpose, or value; purposeful; significant.

   a meaningful wink;

   a meaningful choice.

meaningful

/ ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl /

adjective

1. having great meaning or validity

2. eloquent, expressive

   a meaningful silence

Other Word Forms

• meaningfully adverb
• meaningfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of meaningful¹

First recorded in 1850–55; meaning + -ful

Example Sentences

“It will provide meaningful compensation for each class work and sets a precedent requiring AI companies to pay copyright owners,” said Justin Nelson, a lawyer for the authors, in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

Sweeney’s impeccable screenplay accounts for these seemingly inadvertent details to later bloom into meaningful narrative payoffs.

From Los Angeles Times

Following an intense backlash on social media, he walked the comments back, saying he would have supported the effort, signaling that positioning on this issue could play a meaningful role in 2028.

From Salon

Spurs competed in Europe on a regular basis and had an almost permanent presence in the top half of the Premier League, but meaningful success escaped them and Levy.

From BBC

Daniels: When you look at the finale of “The Office,” everybody was going off in their own direction that had a lot of, in my view, meaningful wrap-up of their story.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• consequential 
• essential 
• important 
• purposeful 
• relevant 
• serious 
• substantial 
• useful 
• valid 
• worthwhile 

When To Use

What are other ways to say meaningful?

Something that is meaningful, such as a meaningful wink or meaningful choice, is full of meaning, purpose, or value. Do you know how meaningful differs from the synonyms expressive, significant, and suggestive? Find out on Thesaurus.com.