significant figure

[ sig-nif-i-kuhnt fig-yer ]

noun

1. each of the digits forming a number that expresses a determined degree of calculation: a sequence of significant figures always begins with the number’s first nonzero digit:

   Rounding each of the measurements to three significant figures, your answers to the first two problems should be 19.0 inches and 4.52 kilometers, respectively.

Word History and Origins

Origin of significant figure¹

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

Whatever the public perception, Vance’s ambitions and adaptability suggest he is poised to remain a significant figure in American politics for years to come.

From Salon

Mike Lynch had been a significant figure in the UK tech industry since helping to establish Cambridge Neurodynamics - a firm that specialised in using computer-based detection and recognition of fingerprints.

From BBC

One of the Civil War’s most significant figures, Sherman left a legacy of competing narratives over his tactics, particularly the March to the Sea, when he pressed on against the Confederate Army in the South.

From New York Times

Here’s a guide to some of the most significant figures you’ll see in the credits.

From New York Times

That said, one of club’s most significant figures was a bartender who made culinary history there a century ago.

From New York Times