Significance vs Value

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

Significance

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 noun

Value

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 noun

	Significance	Value
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈvæljuː/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈvæljuː/"]/
Meaning	The importance of something.	The worth or importance of something.
Example	The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated.	The value of the painting was appraised at millions of dollars.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	B1
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	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	high, low, full, place, put, set, double, triple, etc., in value, to the value of, an increase in value, a rise in value, a drop in value, excellent, good, great, deliver, offer, provide, value for money, enormous, great, high, have, attach, place, be, lie, judgement, of value, value to, dominant, conservative, conventional, set, have, hold, cherish, system, production values, high, low, full, place, put, set, double, triple, etc., in value, to the value of, an increase in value, a rise in value, a drop in value
Antonyms	insignificance, unimportance	worthlessness, unimportance
Common mistakes	Confused with 'significant' as an adjective., Using it in overly casual contexts., Mispronouncing it as 'signifigance'.	Confused with 'evaluate' - 'value' is about worth, 'evaluate' is about assessing., Omitting the object - use 'value' with something to make sense, e.g., 'I value honesty.', Using 'value' as a noun when it should be a verb - remember it can be both.
Usage notes	Used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversations unless discussing important matters.	Use 'value' when talking about how much something is worth, either in money or in importance. It's suitable for both personal and professional contexts. Avoid using in overly casual conversations.

See it in real clips

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: Significance vs Value

What's the difference between Significance and Value?

Significance: The importance of something. Value: The worth or importance of something.

Which is more advanced: Significance and Value?

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

Are Significance and Value the same CEFR level?

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

What part of speech are Significance and Value?

Significance: noun, Value: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Significance: The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated. Value: The value of the painting was appraised at millions of dollars.

Can I use Significance and Value interchangeably?

Not always. Significance and Value 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.