Importance vs Significance

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

Importance

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 noun

Significance

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 noun

	Importance	Significance
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpɔːtns/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpɔːrtns/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/"]/
Meaning	How much something matters.	The importance of something.
Example	The importance of education cannot be overstated.	The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B1	B2
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	cardinal, central, considerable, have, assume, take on, lie in something, of… importance, importance  for, importance  to, in order of importance, a matter of grave importance, a matter of great importance	considerable, cosmic, deep, have, acquire, assume, lie in something, attach to something, significance for, significance to, of significance, be of little, no, etc. significance, considerable, cosmic, deep, have, acquire, assume, lie in something, attach to something, significance for, significance to, of significance, be of little, no, etc. significance
Antonyms	triviality, insignificance, unimportance	insignificance, unimportance
Common mistakes	'Importance' is often confused with 'important', which is an adjective., Some learners use 'importance' with incorrect prepositions, like 'importance for' instead of 'importance of'., Confusion between 'importance' and 'significance' in context.	Confused with 'significant' as an adjective., Using it in overly casual contexts., Mispronouncing it as 'signifigance'.
Usage notes	Use 'importance' in discussions that require an objective level of significance. It's suitable for academic and professional contexts but may sound too serious in casual conversations.	Used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing important matters.

See it in real clips

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

Unless the affair is one of national importance,

Importance

she won't understand its significance for years.

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

A robbery of national significance, it's said.

she won't understand its significance for years.

Peaky Blinders › S1 E1

A robbery of national significance, it's said.

Significance

Frequently asked questions: Importance vs Significance

What's the difference between Importance and Significance?

Importance: How much something matters. Significance: The importance of something.

Which is more advanced: Importance and Significance?

Significance is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Importance and Significance the same CEFR level?

Importance: B1, Significance: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Importance and Significance?

Importance: noun, Significance: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Importance: The importance of education cannot be overstated. Significance: The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated.

Can I use Importance and Significance interchangeably?

Not always. Importance and Significance 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.