noun

nuance

NYOO-ahns

Nuance (noun) means a subtle difference or shade of meaning, feeling, or tone. Example: “A good translator captures the nuances of the original text.”

noun

A subtle difference or shade of meaning, feeling, or tone.

"A good translator captures the nuances of the original text."

"There's a nuance between "confident" and "arrogant" that's easy to miss."

How to Use Nuance

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small, subtle detail that changes the meaning or feel of something.

Common pairings

subtle nuance catch the nuance nuances of meaning

Word Forms

nuanced past tense, nuances plural, nuances singular

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A good translator captures the _____ of the original text.

Etymology

Borrowed from French nuance, "shade" or "hue," ultimately traced back to Latin nubes, "cloud."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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shade refinement subtlety nicety

Related Words

culture color grace colour improvement shadow tone ghost

Rhymes for nuance

lance dance Nance seance chance trance stance glance balance advance finance enhance

See all rhymes for nuance →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “nuance” mean?

The word “nuance” means a subtle difference or shade of meaning, feeling, or tone. In plain terms, a small, subtle detail that changes the meaning or feel of something.

How do you pronounce “nuance”?

“Nuance” is pronounced NYOO-ahns (/ˈnju.ɑns/ in IPA).

How do you use “nuance” in a sentence?

Here is “nuance” used in a sentence: “A good translator captures the nuances of the original text.”

What part of speech is “nuance”?

“Nuance” is a noun.

Where does the word “nuance” come from?

The word “nuance” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French nuance, "shade" or "hue," ultimately traced back to Latin nubes, "cloud.".

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