a significant fortune

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant fortune" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a large amount of wealth or money that is noteworthy or considerable. Example: "After years of hard work, she inherited a significant fortune from her late uncle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Clients would have to put away a significant fortune in insurance bonds to provide enough income for old age.

The New York Times

With 30m packages on sale, they stand to gain a total of 90m lire (£30,000) - not a significant fortune, but still.

The Guardian

Ajavon, 53, is one of Benin's most successful entrepreneurs and has built a significant fortune as the founder of Cajaf-Comon, Benin's largest supplier of frozen chicken.

Forbes

Many of them are also intelligent, but this characteristic is not nearly as crucial to building a significant fortune as being able to see and play the angles.

Forbes

For a more recent, if similarly calamitous, manifestation of the power of chaos theory, consider how different the world would be today had not a devout, soft-spoken Saudi Arabian engineer inherited a significant fortune from his estranged father.

Forbes

Zamoyski gathered a significant fortune; his estates generated a revenue of over 200,000 zloties in the early 17th century.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

According to New Markets Advisors, a significant portion of Fortune 500 companies —  including Procter & Gamble, IBM, Walgreens and The Hershey Company —  have some sort of incubator efforts in at least one business unit.

TechCrunch

A significant portion of Fortune 500 companies in the start-up category have been started by first-generation immigrants.

Huffington Post

A significant portion of the fortune he made writing and lecturing he spent on his art collection.

The Guardian

He donated a significant portion of his fortune and now only has a tiny stake in the now $9 billion (sales) company.

Forbes

The Mouth of the South proclaims his own generosity while decrying Buffetts refusal to give away a significant portion of his fortune.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing wealth, consider the context and audience. "A significant fortune" is suitable for formal and neutral contexts. Use more informal alternatives like "a huge fortune" or "a king's ransom" when writing for a more relaxed audience.

Common error

Avoid overusing "significant" when describing smaller amounts. Ensure the fortune truly represents a noteworthy level of wealth relative to the situation. Using a less emphatic phrase might be more appropriate if the amount is only moderately large.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant fortune" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" acts as a descriptive adjective modifying the noun "fortune". It identifies and characterizes a specific instance of wealth. Ludwig provides examples showing its role in various sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Wiki

17%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"A significant fortune" is a noun phrase used to describe a notably large amount of wealth. Ludwig AI shows that it is grammatically correct and appears most frequently in News & Media and Wiki contexts, making it suitable for neutral to formal writing. While not exceptionally common, it's a versatile phrase for highlighting financial success, inheritance, or business ventures. For variety, consider using alternatives like "a considerable fortune" or "a substantial fortune". Remember to use it when the amount truly merits the description, avoiding overstatement for smaller sums.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable fortune

Replaces 'significant' with 'considerable', suggesting a noteworthy but perhaps less extreme amount.

a substantial fortune

Uses 'substantial' to emphasize the solid and real nature of the wealth.

a large fortune

A more direct and common way to describe a significant amount of wealth.

a sizable fortune

Indicates the fortune is noticeably large.

a vast fortune

Implies an extremely large and expansive amount of wealth.

a huge fortune

A more informal way to describe a very large fortune.

an immense fortune

Emphasizes the immeasurably large size of the fortune.

a tidy sum

A more understated and sometimes ironic way to refer to a considerable amount of money.

a handsome inheritance

Specifically refers to a fortune received as an inheritance, suggesting a generous amount.

a king's ransom

An idiomatic expression indicating a very large amount of money, often in the context of a payment or price.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "a significant fortune" in a sentence?

You can use "a significant fortune" to describe a large amount of wealth, as in "She inherited "a significant fortune" from her grandfather" or "Building "a significant fortune" requires both luck and hard work".

What are some alternatives to saying "a significant fortune"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a considerable fortune", "a substantial fortune", or even "a large fortune".

Is it more correct to say "a significant wealth" or "a significant fortune"?

While "wealth" and "fortune" are similar, ""a significant fortune"" is the more common and idiomatic expression. "Wealth" is a broader term, while "fortune" often implies a specific, measurable amount of money or assets.

What's the difference between "a significant fortune" and "a small fortune"?

"A significant fortune" implies a large, noteworthy amount of wealth, while "a small fortune" suggests a more modest but still substantial sum. The terms are relative and depend on the context.