sig·ni·fy
ˈsig-nə-ˌfī
signified; signifying
1
: to have significance : matter
… it will not much signify what one wears …—Jane Austen
2
: to engage in signifying
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Signify basically means "to make a sign or signal". One of its synonyms is indicate; the index finger is the finger you point with, so to indicate is essentially to point to something. Significant means "important" and significance means "importance;" similarly, insignificant means "unimportant" and insignificance means "lack of importance".
Cite this Entry
“Signify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/signify. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.
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