Insignificant
/ˌɪn.sɪɡˈnɪf.ɪ.kənt/noun
Too small or unimportant to be worth consideration.
Did you know?The prefix 'in-' suggests negation, while 'significant' stems from a term meaning 'to signify' or 'to mark', hinting at the power of words to create meaning or presence—even when they claim to lack it!
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
insignificans
“Not marking or not signifying.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
insignificantem
“Not significant or not of importance.”
Old French
Old French
insignifiant
“Unimportant, lacking significance.”
Middle English
Middle English
insignifical
“Not significant or not marked.”
Modern English
English
insignificant
“Lacking any notable importance or value.”