Significant vs Symbolic

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Significant

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 adjective

Symbolic

Top 3,000 (common) C1 adjective

Most common: Significant

	Significant	Symbolic
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/sɪmˈbɒlɪk/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/sɪmˈbɑːlɪk/"]/
Meaning	Important or meaning a lot.	Representing something else, often with a deeper meaning.
Example	The research showed a significant improvement in patient outcomes.	He shook his fist in a symbolic gesture of defiance.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	C1
Part of speech	adjective	adjective
Collocations	be, prove, become, extremely, fairly, very, for, to	be, seem, become, deeply, heavily, highly, of
Antonyms	insignificant, trivial, minor	literal, nonrepresentational
Common mistakes	Confusing 'significant' with 'significance'., Using 'significant' as a noun instead of an adjective., Overusing 'significant' in casual speaking.	Confusing with 'symbolize' - 'symbolic' is an adjective., Using 'symbolic' incorrectly for literal meanings., Overusing in casual conversations where simpler words could suffice.
Usage notes	Used in academic and formal contexts to indicate importance. Avoid in very casual conversations; instead, use simpler words like 'big' or 'important'.	Use 'symbolic' to describe something that stands for something else, especially in art or literature. For example, a dove is often seen as a symbolic representation of peace. Avoid using it in very casual conversations.

See it in real clips

But of all these anomalies, the most significant is this:

But what is significant is, I felt the touch of God.

But of all these anomalies, the most significant is this:

But what is significant is, I felt the touch of God.

Significant

Frequently asked questions: Significant vs Symbolic

What's the difference between Significant and Symbolic?

Significant: Important or meaning a lot. Symbolic: Representing something else, often with a deeper meaning.

Which is more common: Significant and Symbolic?

Significant is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Significant and Symbolic?

Symbolic is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Significant and Symbolic the same CEFR level?

Significant: B2, Symbolic: C1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Significant and Symbolic?

Significant: adjective, Symbolic: adjective.

Can you show an example of each?

Significant: The research showed a significant improvement in patient outcomes. Symbolic: He shook his fist in a symbolic gesture of defiance.

Can I use Significant and Symbolic interchangeably?

Not always. Significant and Symbolic are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.