noun
nuisance
NYOO-suhns
noun
1
A minor annoyance or source of inconvenience.
"The dripping tap was a constant nuisance."
"Her little brother could be a real nuisance when he wanted attention."
2
In law, something harmful or offensive to the public or to an individual, for which there may be a legal remedy.
"The neighbours sued over the factory's noise as a public nuisance."
How to Use Nuisance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething or someone annoying that gets in the way of your comfort or peace.
Common mistake
Nuisance is uncountable in most everyday use ("such a nuisance"), but can take "a" when referring to a specific person or thing causing trouble.
Common pairings
a public nuisance
make a nuisance of yourself
what a nuisance
Word Forms
nuisances plural
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The dripping tap was a constant _____.
Etymology
From Old French nuisance, "harm", ultimately from Latin nocere, "to hurt" — the same root that gives us "innocent" and "noxious".