significant purchase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant purchase" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a purchase that is large in value or importance, often implying a financial impact or a noteworthy decision. Example: "After careful consideration, I decided to make a significant purchase of a new car to meet my family's needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Any significant purchase would need to be financed by a new share issue, analysts said.

The Guardian - Business

Minutes before the window shut, United did make a significant purchase.

The New York Times - Sports

The deal is the third significant purchase by Caterpillar, based in Peoria, Ill., in recent months.

The New York Times

What I learned was that for a significant purchase like a sofa, the smart shopper needs both.

The New York Times - Tech

"Just enough to make it a significant purchase," my father says, "but not enough to cripple you".

The Guardian - Books

He was 17 when he signed with the Dodgers in 1986 for a paltry $4,500, from which he made his first significant purchase, a cow.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

They were aimed at long-term planning money, unspent summer school money and significant purchasing reductions, school officials said.

The New York Times

The Federal Reserve also initiated significant purchases to prop up the financial markets in the wake of the crisis.

The New York Times

While demand for communications equipment has weakened because of problems at several small communications companies, larger companies like AT&T and Verizon Communications continue to make significant purchases.

The New York Times

Moreover, he has to persuade his club's powers-that-be to loosen the purse strings and enable him to make those significant purchases.

The Guardian - Sport

They, like many clubs of similar stature, are monitoring short-term opportunities, like a potential fire sale at Benfica, but significant purchases are multi-layered mantraps.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be aware that in metaphorical or technical contexts, "purchase" can mean "grip" or "leverage". Ensure your surrounding sentence clearly signals whether you mean a financial transaction or gaining a foothold.

Common error

Avoid using redundant modifiers like "large significant purchase" or "big significant purchase". The word "significant" already encompasses the idea of substantial scale or importance, making additional size-based adjectives unnecessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant purchase" functions as a noun phrase where "significant" acts as a qualifying adjective. In Ludwig AI examples, it often serves as the direct object of verbs like "make", "finance", or "complete". It is a standard collocation used to categorize transactions that require deliberation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

A review of the linguistic data from Ludwig AI confirms that "significant purchase" is a highly effective and grammatically correct way to describe major transactions. Whether discussing corporate takeovers in The Wall Street Journal or personal milestones like buying a car in The New York Times, this phrase consistently denotes importance and financial gravity. Interestingly, Ludwig also reveals a secondary metaphorical use where "purchase" refers to a "foothold" or "grip"—such as a brand failing to find "significant purchase" in a new market. However, in the vast majority of cases, it remains the gold standard for describing high-stakes buying decisions. When writing, ensure the significance you are implying is clear to your audience, as it can refer to both the price tag and the strategic utility of the item.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major acquisition

Common in corporate and business contexts to describe buying another company or large asset.

substantial buy

Slightly less formal and emphasizes the quantity or size of the purchase.

notable investment

Shifts the focus from the act of buying to the expected future value of the item.

hefty transaction

More informal and emphasizes the high financial price or burden.

sizeable expenditure

Focuses on the outflow of money from a budget.

considerable procurement

Used in governmental or administrative contexts to describe the process of obtaining goods.

meaningful asset

Highlights the importance or utility of the item rather than its price tag.

large-scale buy

Focuses on the volume or quantity involved in the purchase.

weighty commitment

Emphasizes the long-term responsibility or impact of the decision.

big-ticket item

An idiomatic expression referring specifically to high-priced consumer goods.

FAQs

How do I use "significant purchase" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe any major buy, such as: "Buying a home is the most "significant purchase" most people will ever make."

What can I say instead of "significant purchase"?

Depending on your focus, you might use "major acquisition" for business, or "substantial buy" for a high-cost personal item.

Is "significant purchase" formal or informal?

It is primarily used in neutral to formal registers, such as financial reports, news articles, and professional advice.

What is the difference between a "significant purchase" and a "major investment"?

While a "significant purchase" simply refers to buying something of high value, a "major investment" implies that the buyer expects to see a return or growth from the money spent.