important

 
Pronunciation: /ɪmˈpɔːt(ə)nt/

adjective

  • of great significance or value: important habitats for wildlife it is important to avoid monosyllabic answers [sentence adverb]: the speech had passion and, more important, compassion
  • (of a person) having high rank or status: an important senator
  • (of an artist or artistic work) significantly original and influential: writers as important as Hopkins

Origin:

late Middle English: from medieval Latin important- 'being of consequence', from the verb importare (see import)

Both more/most important and more/most importantly are used as written asides, e.g. a non-drinking, non-smoking, and, more importantly, non-political sportsman. It is sometimes maintained that the only correct form in this use is important, on the grounds that it stands for ‘what is more/most important’. However, importantly used in this way is perfectly well established and acceptable in modern English.

Spelling help

The ending of important is spelled -ant.