Etymologically
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importance

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 10:21. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɛ̃.pɔʁ.tɑ̃s/[1]

Forms

importance f (plural importances)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian importanza (“importance; important affair; authority”) (late 14th–early 15th century), from importare (“to matter”).[2][3][4][5] The Italian verb is from Latin importō (“to bring in”), from portō (“to carry”) (see importer).[3][5] Wiktionary instead derives it from Medieval Latin importantia, and Littré from important.[1][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Georges Chastellain's chronicle (third quarter of the 15th century) uses it for an important event and for a person's authority or influence: quelque chose d'importance.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

Commynes (late 15th century) has lieu de grant importance, the quality of what is important.[2] Faire l'homme d'importance “to act important” is in Molière (1659), and the pejorative sense, a self-important air, follows in Corneille (1662).[2][4] L'importance est de “the main thing is” is in Retz (1660), and attacher de l'importance à in d'Alembert (before 1783).[4] The sense “size, scale” (l'importance des dégâts) dates from about 1770 (Rousseau).[4]

Timeline

  • Third quarter of the 15th century – Georges Chastellain.[2]
  • Late 15th century – Lieu de grant importance, Commynes.[2]
  • 1659 – Faire l'homme d'importance, Molière.[2]
  • 1660 – L'importance est de, Retz.[4]
  • c. 1770 – “Size, extent”, Rousseau.[4]

Meanings

Noun

  1. importance, significance: une affaire de la plus haute importance, cela n'a pas d'importance, it doesn't matter.[5][1]
  2. Attacher de l'importance à: to attach importance to.[4][5]
  3. Size, scale: l'importance des dégâts.[4][5]
  4. Social standing, influence, (pejorative) self-importance: un air d'importance.[2][4]
  5. D'importance: important, (old) soundly: rosser d'importance.[2][6]

Word family

  • inimportance

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette