noun
Uncommon
nil
nihl
Nil (noun) means nothing at all; zero. Example: “Her chances of success were nil.”
noun
1
Nothing at all; zero.
"Her chances of success were nil."
"The risk of infection is close to nil with proper hygiene."
2
A score of zero, especially in British sporting results.
"The match finished two-nil to the home team."
How to use nil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNothing, zero — used both generally and as a sports score.
UK vs US
Common in British English for scores ("three-nil"); American English usually says "zero" or "nothing" instead.
Common pairings
nil by mouth
win two-nil
chances are nil
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Word forms
- Plural
- nils
Fill the gap
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Her chances of success were _____.
Etymology
From Latin nīl, itself a shortening of nihil ("nothing") — the same root that gives us nihilism.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “nil” mean?
The word “nil” means nothing at all; zero. In plain terms, nothing, zero — used both generally and as a sports score.
How do you pronounce “nil”?
“Nil” is pronounced nihl (/nɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “nil” in a sentence?
Here is “nil” used in a sentence: “Her chances of success were nil.”
What part of speech is “nil”?
“Nil” is a noun.
Where does the word “nil” come from?
The word “nil” comes from Latin. From Latin nīl, itself a shortening of nihil ("nothing") — the same root that gives us nihilism.
Is “nil” a common word?
“Nil” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “nil” have?
“Nil” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: nothing at all; zero.
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