Insignificant

Insignificant is an adjective describing something that is too small or unimportant to be worth attention. It can refer to magnitude, impact, or meaning in a given context. In everyday language, a detail might be described as insignificant if it does not affect outcomes or conclusions. The noun insignificance refers to the quality or state of being insignificant.

Etymology and usage: insignificant derives from Latin insignificans, formed from in- meaning “not” and significare meaning “to signify.” It entered English via French and other routes, with usage dating to the early modern period. The term is commonly contrasted with significant, which denotes importance, meaning, or consequence.

Statistical and scientific sense: in statistics and research, “insignificant” or “not statistically significant” describes results that do not meet a predefined threshold for evidence against a null hypothesis (for example, a p-value above a chosen alpha level). In other disciplines, the term similarly marks limited or negligible practical impact.

Nuance and alternatives: while useful for concise description, insignificance can carry subjective or pejorative connotations if applied to people or ideas. In such cases neutral substitutes like minor, negligible, trivial, or inconsequential may be preferable, depending on context.

See also: significance, insignia (different root but etymologically related through the concept of sign or mark).