abbreviation

NB

en-BEE

NB (abbreviation) means Nota bene, Latin for 'note well', used to draw attention to an important point that follows. Example: “NB: the deadline is midnight on Friday, not the following Monday.”

abbreviation

Nota bene, Latin for 'note well', used to draw attention to an important point that follows.

"NB: the deadline is midnight on Friday, not the following Monday."

"NB all quoted prices exclude VAT."

Non-binary, describing a person whose gender identity is neither exclusively male nor exclusively female.

"The form now offers male, female and NB."

"He listed himself as an NB writer in his bio."

New Brunswick, the Canadian province.

"Moncton, NB"

How to Use NB

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA note saying 'pay attention to this', or short for non-binary.

When to use it

The nota bene sense is formal; the non-binary sense is everyday.

Memory tip

When it means nota bene, put it at the start of the sentence and follow it with a colon.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

PS → cf. → enby → viz.

Common pairings

NB: please NB NB that NB and trans

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “NB” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____: the deadline is midnight on Friday, not the following Monday.

Etymology

In the first sense, an abbreviation of Latin nota bene, 'note well'; in the second, an initialism of non-binary.

Origin: Latin

Frequently Asked Questions

What does NB mean in an email or a document?

It means nota bene, Latin for 'note well', and it flags a point the writer does not want you to miss. It normally opens a short sentence set apart from the main text, often at the foot of a note.

What is the difference between NB and PS?

NB highlights something important within or beside the main text and is usually formal. PS, from Latin post scriptum, adds an afterthought at the end of a letter or email and is more casual.

How is NB used to mean non-binary?

It is a written shorthand for non-binary, seen in profiles, forms and casual writing. Enby, spelling out the letters, is the spoken and informal equivalent.

Featured In

Vocabulary lists that include NB:

Words That End With B