Cool MateImportant vs Not negligible
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Important
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Not negligible
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Not negligibleMost common: Important
| Important | Not negligible | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpɔːtnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpɔːrtnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəbl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈnɛɡlɪdʒəbl// |
| Meaning | Something that matters a lot. | Not something you can ignore; important. |
| Example | It's important to drink enough water every day. | The effects of climate change are not negligible, affecting ecosystems worldwide. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, sound, extremely, fairly, very, for, to, be, seem, sound, extremely, fairly, very, for, to | not negligible difference, not negligible impact, not negligible risk, not negligible amount, not negligible evidence |
| Antonyms | unimportant, trivial, insignificant | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'unimportant'—'not important' is the opposite., Using with nouns incorrectly—'important' only describes nouns, not verbs., Overusing—try varying language with synonyms to improve vocabulary. | Mixing up with 'negligible' and using it in the wrong context., Using 'not negligible' to describe minor issues., Assuming it can be used without context for clarity. |
| Usage notes | Use 'important' for things that have significance or impact. It's appropriate in formal and informal contexts, but in very casual conversation, words like 'big deal' might be more appropriate. | Use 'not negligible' when discussing facts or figures that matter significantly. It's suitable for academic, technical, or formal contexts but may sound overly complex in casual conversation. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Important vs Not negligible
What's the difference between Important and Not negligible?
Important: Something that matters a lot. Not negligible: Not something you can ignore; important.
Which is more formal: Important and Not negligible?
Not negligible is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Important and Not negligible?
Important is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Important: It's important to drink enough water every day. Not negligible: The effects of climate change are not negligible, affecting ecosystems worldwide.
Can I use Important and Not negligible interchangeably?
Not always. Important and Not negligible 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.