What is it?
This term functions as a qualifying standard within various legal doctrines, primarily governing whether an event meets the threshold for being material or substantial under contract law or tort claims.
significant
UCC / CommercialLegal glossary term
Quick answer
What does significant mean?
Significant usually means having considerable or important legal weight. In contracts, it matters because it often triggers specific rights, obligations, or defenses upon breach. Before signing, check if the contract defines what 'significant' means in context.
Definitions
What is significant?
Legal Definition
A significant term describes something of considerable or important consequence in a legal context, often relating to materiality or weight. When an action or omission is deemed significant, it usually triggers specific rights, obligations, or defenses under governing law. The precise threshold for significance varies widely depending on whether the contract involves monetary damages, breach severity, or statutory compliance.
Plain-English Translation
If you promise to bring a whole cake but only bring half a slice, that's not just any small thing; it’s significant enough to make your friend mad and demand a refund.
Term context
How significant shows up in legal documents
Why does it matter?
Ignoring this concept risks having a claim dismissed outright because the breach wasn't 'significant enough,' leading to the debtor facing default judgment from the creditor.
When does it matter?
Significance becomes critical when a contractual deadline passes, an injury occurs, or a party files a motion to dismiss based on insufficient grounds.
Where is it usually seen?
You see this term frequently in materiality qualifiers within commercial contracts, as well as when assessing whether a breach rises to the level of 'material breach' under UCC Article 2 agreements.
Who is affected?
A tenant might claim their rent late payment is significant enough to void an eviction notice; conversely, an indemnitor must prove that the loss they covered was indeed significant before paying out.
How does it work?
First, a court assesses the impact of the event. Then, it weighs that impact against what the parties agreed upon or what the statute requires. Finally, significance determines if the consequence is minor (curable) or major (fundamental).
Contract relevance
Why significant matters in contracts
Ignoring this concept risks having a claim dismissed outright because the breach wasn't 'significant enough,' leading to the debtor facing default judgment from the creditor.
Document context
Where significant appears in documents
| Document type | Section | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Contract Agreement | Breach/Remedies Clause | Determines whether a minor lapse requires full performance or just damages. |
| Statutory Filing (e.g., Complaint) | Allegations of Wrongdoing | Defines the scope of injury claimed, often affecting jurisdiction. |
| Commercial Invoice/PO | Terms and Conditions | Relates to whether a deviation from agreed specs is substantial enough to void acceptance. |
| Regulation Notice | Compliance Requirements | Indicates if a failure constitutes a material violation requiring immediate cure. |
Contract language
Common contract wording
| Contract wording | Plain-English meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Material Breach or Significant Deviation | A big deal; something truly important enough to break the deal. | Does this cover minor hiccups, or only major failures? |
| Of significant consequence to the parties | It matters a lot to both sides involved in the agreement. | Is 'both' defined? Or does it mean one party alone? |
| A significant amount of time | A long, non-trivial duration when measuring deadlines. | How many days/months constitute 'significant' in this document? |
Red flags
Red flags to watch for
Significantly or Materially
These terms are often used interchangeably but carry different legal weights depending on jurisdiction.
What to check: Does the contract clarify which term governs, or does it use both?
A significant portion of
This is too vague; what percentage triggers significance? 1%? 50%?
What to check: Demand a quantifiable metric (e.g., '25% or more').
If determined by the sole discretion of...
It gives one party unchecked power to deem something significant, regardless of objective reality.
What to check: Can you require a standard for that determination?
Substantially similar but not precisely
This language suggests leniency but invites arguments over where the line is drawn.
What to check: Ask for examples of what counts as 'substantially similar'.
Wording examples
Clearer wording examples
Vague wording
Significant delay
Clearer wording
A delay exceeding thirty (30) calendar days
Vague wording
A significant amount of money
Clearer wording
An amount greater than five thousand dollars ($5,000)
Note: “clearer” means easier to read — not legally reviewed or guaranteed safe.
Pre-signature checklist
What to check before signing
1
Does the contract define 'significant'?
2
If not defined, does it specify *how* significance is measured (e.g., percentage, time)?
3
Are there exceptions to what counts as significant?
4
Is the standard of review objective or subjective?
5
Who gets to decide if something is significant?
6
Does the contract address minor vs. major breaches?
Party impact
How significant affects each party
| Party | What this party should check |
|---|---|
| Seller/Service Provider | Ensure that their performance failures are deemed 'significant' enough to trigger payment or penalty, but not so significant they automatically void the entire contract. |
| Buyer/Client | Verify that minor deviations from specifications do not count as a 'significant breach,' allowing them to accept goods while still holding the seller accountable for damages. |
Comparison
significant vs similar terms
| Related term | Plain meaning | Main difference from significant |
|---|---|---|
| Material | The term carries such weight that its absence or deviation fundamentally alters the bargain. | Often implies a higher, more definitive level of importance than 'significant'; usually used in breach contexts. |
| Substantial | A large portion of the whole; it matters greatly but might not be the single deciding factor. | Focuses on degree or scale rather than absolute necessity to the contract's core purpose. |
| Minor | Trivial, small in scope, and unlikely to defeat the entire agreement. | It is the direct opposite of significant; often triggers specific repair clauses instead of termination rights. |
Missing or vague
If significant is missing or vague
If 'significant' remains undefined or vague, disputes will inevitably arise over whether a late delivery was merely inconvenient or truly damaging. One party might argue that a two-day delay is insignificant under the contract terms, while the other claims it constitutes a material breach warranting immediate termination. This ambiguity forces courts to apply common law interpretations—which can vary by state—to determine if the term meant 'material' or simply 'quite large.'
Document map
Document section map
| Contract section | What to inspect |
|---|---|
| Definitions Section | Look for explicit definitions, such as 'Significant Event' or 'Material Significance'. |
| Remedies/Damages Clause | Check how the contract links significance to remedies (e.g., 'If breach is significant, Buyer may terminate'). |
| Acceptance/Rejection Clause | See if acceptance depends on whether deviations are deemed 'significant' or merely 'minor'. |
Visual model
Understand significant fast
An explainer image has not been generated for this term yet.
01
A borrower failing to make one payment on a $1 million loan triggers significant default under the mortgage agreement.
02
If a surgeon's error only causes a small bruise, it might not be significant enough for punitive damages in the malpractice suit.
03
The government deems an environmental violation 'significant' when the pollutant exceeds the daily limit by 30%.
Questions & answers
Common questions about significant
What does significant mean?
Significant usually means having considerable or important legal weight. In contracts, it matters because it often triggers specific rights, obligations, or defenses upon breach. Before signing, check if the contract defines what 'significant' means in context.
What is significant in plain English?
If you promise to bring a whole cake but only bring half a slice, that's not just any small thing; it’s significant enough to make your friend mad and demand a refund.
Why does significant matter in a contract?
Ignoring this concept risks having a claim dismissed outright because the breach wasn't 'significant enough,' leading to the debtor facing default judgment from the creditor.
When does significant apply?
Significance becomes critical when a contractual deadline passes, an injury occurs, or a party files a motion to dismiss based on insufficient grounds.
Where does significant appear in documents?
You see this term frequently in materiality qualifiers within commercial contracts, as well as when assessing whether a breach rises to the level of 'material breach' under UCC Article 2 agreements.
Who is affected by significant?
A tenant might claim their rent late payment is significant enough to void an eviction notice; conversely, an indemnitor must prove that the loss they covered was indeed significant before paying out.
How does significant work?
First, a court assesses the impact of the event. Then, it weighs that impact against what the parties agreed upon or what the statute requires. Finally, significance determines if the consequence is minor (curable) or major (fundamental).
What happens if significant is missing or vague?
If 'significant' remains undefined or vague, disputes will inevitably arise over whether a late delivery was merely inconvenient or truly damaging. One party might argue that a two-day delay is insignificant under the contract terms, while the other claims it constitutes a material breach warranting immediate termination. This ambiguity forces courts to apply common law interpretations—which can vary by state—to determine if the term meant 'material' or simply 'quite large.'
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Wikipedia
Significant other
The term "significant other" (SO) has different uses in psychology and in colloquial language. Colloquially, "significant other" is used as a gender-neutral term for a person's partner in an intimate relationship without disclosing or presuming anything about...
Open on Wikipedia →Knowledge graph
Where significant connects to real contract work
This layer links the term to nearby glossary entries, document use cases, and contract-risk guides so readers can move from definition to context without dead ends.
9nodes
Glossarygoverning lawgoverning law often shapes similar contract language wording, negotiation leverage, and the plain-English meaning of the clause aro...Glossarymaterial breachmaterial breach often shapes similar contract language wording, negotiation leverage, and the plain-English meaning of the clause a...Glossaryagreementagreement often shapes similar contract language wording, negotiation leverage, and the plain-English meaning of the clause around...
BGRisk context hubGlossary meaning, document paths, and adjacent risk pages connected around this clause.
Use caseEviction NoticeReal Estate Contracts: An invalid eviction notice is legally void — but only if you know how to challenge it.Use caseAnalyze Service AgreementBusiness & Commercial Contracts: Analyze a Service Agreement online and spot risky wording fast.Use caseCheck Vendor Contract RisksBusiness & Commercial Contracts: Check a Vendor Contract for common risks and hidden one-sided clauses.RiskNon refundable payment clausePlain-English risk guide for non refundable payment clause.RiskNon refundable deposit clause freelancerPlain-English risk guide for non refundable deposit clause freelancer.RiskNon refundable work completed riskPlain-English risk guide for non refundable work completed risk.
Source & disclosure
This page is an AI-assisted plain-English explanation based on LexPredict Legal Dictionary context and contract-review patterns. It is not legal advice. Meaning may vary by jurisdiction, industry, and exact clause wording.
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