Betydande

Betydande is a Swedish adjective meaning significant, substantial, or important. It describes something with notable importance, impact, or magnitude and is commonly used in formal or neutral writing.

Etymology: The word derives from the verb betyda, meaning to signify or mean, with the -ande suffix that forms an adjective akin to a present-participle. The sense is roughly “having significance” or “meaningful.”

Usage and forms: Betydande modifies nouns in standard Swedish adjective agreement and can appear in attributive position (en betydande summa, ett betydande belopp) or predicatively (Resultatet var betydande). It is frequently used for quantities, events, effects, and outcomes, for example: en betydande mängd pengar, betydande konsekvenser, ett betydande steg. In many contexts it signals a careful, formal assessment of importance.

Related terms: The noun betydelse denotes significance or meaning. A related adjective is betydelsefull, which carries a similar sense but with a slightly more common or everyday flavor in some registers. Other close terms include väsentlig (essential or substantial) and, depending on nuance, betydelsefull can be used interchangeably in many formal contexts.

Usage notes: Betydande is a neutral, formal descriptor and is common in academic, policy, and analytical writing. It emphasizes the magnitude of importance rather than merely being large, distinguishing it from broader terms like stor or storartad. Its exact strength can vary by context, so writers select betydande when they want to stress notable impact or consequence.