meaningful

Meaningful is an adjective used to describe something that has meaning, value, or purpose. In everyday language, it often signals that something is more than trivial or superficial and can affect beliefs, actions, or emotions.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from meaning with the suffix -ful, indicating abundance or sufficiency. The concept of meaningfulness appears across disciplines, including linguistics, philosophy, psychology, and ethics, where it can refer to informational content, personal significance, or alignment with values and goals.

Senses of meaning: In linguistic and informational contexts, a statement or signal is meaningful if it conveys information and can be interpreted. In practical or ethical terms, something is meaningful when it serves a purpose or reflects values, making it worthwhile or important. In assessment or impact terms, a result can be described as meaningful if it shows substantial or notable differences or implications.

Usage and nuance: Meaningfulness is often subjective; what is meaningful to one person or culture may not be to another. Context matters, as cultural norms, personal experiences, and situational factors shape judgments of what is meaningful. In philosophy of life, meaningfulness is discussed as a sense of purpose, coherence, and significance that contributes to well-being and motivation.

Related concepts include meaning, significance, purpose, value, and relevance.