WordGarden.iomeaningfulness
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈiːnɪŋfəlnəs/
US
- /mˈiːnɪŋfəlnəs/
Meanings
Noun
the quality of being significant, valuable, or purposeful
the quality of having intelligible or semantic meaning
Beyond the definition
It isn't about grand gestures; it's the quiet sense of purpose in your life. It's that feeling when you're deeply engaged in something, whether it's a challenging project at work, a heartfelt conversation with a friend, or simply losing yourself in a beautiful piece of music. A life with that sense of purpose isn't necessarily easy, but it feels right.
Think about a skilled carpenter carefully crafting a chair—the act itself is imbued with meaning because they are creating something useful and lasting. Or consider volunteering at an animal shelter; that work feels meaningful because you're directly improving the lives of vulnerable creatures. Sometimes, finding meaning comes from overcoming obstacles, learning from mistakes, or simply appreciating the small joys in life. It's a deeply personal experience—what one person finds meaningful, another might not.
Meaningfulness refers to the quality of being significant, valuable, and full of purpose. It's about having a sense that your life, or parts of it, matter, both to yourself and sometimes to others. It's more than just happiness; you can be happy doing something trivial, but a deeper sense of meaning connects to your values and beliefs.
The concept often arises in discussions of psychology and philosophy. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, wrote extensively about the importance of finding meaning even in the most horrific circumstances. He believed that having a sense of purpose was crucial for survival.
Meaningfulness can be found in many areas: work (feeling your contributions are valuable), relationships (experiencing deep connection and support), spirituality (connecting to something larger than yourself), creativity (expressing yourself authentically), or personal growth (striving toward goals). It's not about achieving a specific outcome, but rather how you approach life.
For example, a doctor might find meaningfulness in healing patients, while an artist finds it in creating beauty. A parent might derive meaning from raising their children, and a teacher from inspiring young minds. Even seemingly mundane tasks can be imbued with meaning if they align with your values—cooking a meal for loved ones, tending to a garden, or simply offering a kind word to a stranger.
Ultimately, meaningfulness is subjective. It's about identifying what truly resonates with you and building a life that reflects those values. It's the feeling of being connected to something larger than yourself and living a life that feels authentic and worthwhile.
Examples
- 1
Teaching
She found meaningfulness in teaching children to read.
- 2
Daily work
A clear purpose can give daily work a sense of meaningfulness.
- 3
Job satisfaction
The job paid well, but it lacked meaningfulness for him.
- 4
Volunteering
Volunteering added meaningfulness to her weekends.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Workplace study
The study looked at employees' feelings of meaningfulness at work.
See also
Similar
- significance
- importance
- purposefulness
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- a sense of meaningfulness
- personal meaningfulness
- meaningfulness of life
Word family
Explore
- purpose
- existential meaning
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- meaningfulnessnoun