显著 (xiǎn zhù) is an adjective meaning 'prominent,' 'marked,' or 'strikingly noticeable.' Though each character has independent meanings—显 ('to show,' 'evident') and 著 ('notable,' 'famous')—together they form a fixed compound emphasizing clear, undeniable visibility or impact. It describes changes, differences, effects, or features that stand out strongly and are easily perceived, often in objective or formal contexts like science, medicine, business, or social analysis.

This word is commonly used to modify nouns (e.g., 显著效果, 'marked effect') or follow verbs like 有, 表现, or 显示 (e.g., 表现出显著改善, 'shows marked improvement'). It carries a neutral-to-formal register and rarely appears in casual speech. Unlike colloquial terms like 很明显, 显著 implies measurable or verifiable prominence—often backed by data or observable evidence—and is frequently found in reports, academic writing, and official announcements.