nonsense
NON-suhns
Nonsense (noun) means Words, ideas, or behavior that make no sense or have no logical meaning. Example: “Don't believe that story, it's complete nonsense from start to finish.”
noun
1
Words, ideas, or behavior that make no sense or have no logical meaning.
"Don't believe that story, it's complete nonsense from start to finish."
"He was talking complete nonsense after staying up all night."
"Stop making excuses — that's just nonsense."
2
A style of playful, absurd literature or poetry.
"Edward Lear's limericks are a classic example of nonsense verse."
How to use nonsense
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that's silly, illogical, or simply untrue.
Common pairings
talk nonsense
a load of nonsense
nonsense verse
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like nonsense.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- nonsenses
- Third person singular
- nonsenses
- Past tense
- nonsensed
- Comparative
- more nonsense
- Superlative
- most nonsense
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Don't believe that story, it's complete _____ from start to finish.
Etymology
From non- ("no, not") plus sense, coined around the 1610s.
Class of 1610
nonsense joined the language around 1610.
See the full Class of 1610 →
Synonyms
View more →
rubbish
all my eye
all my eye and Betty Martin
applesauce
bafflegab
balderdash
balls
baloney
banana oil
Bandini
batcrap
baragouin
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for nonsense
See all rhymes for nonsense →Frequently asked questions
What does “nonsense” mean?
The word “nonsense” means words, ideas, or behavior that make no sense or have no logical meaning. In plain terms, something that's silly, illogical, or simply untrue.
How do you pronounce “nonsense”?
“Nonsense” is pronounced NON-suhns (/ˈnɑn.sɛns/ in IPA).
How do you use “nonsense” in a sentence?
Here is “nonsense” used in a sentence: “He was talking complete nonsense after staying up all night.”
What is another word for “nonsense”?
Words with a similar meaning to “nonsense” include all my eye, all my eye and Betty Martin, applesauce, bafflegab, balderdash and balls.
What part of speech is “nonsense”?
“Nonsense” is a noun.
Where does the word “nonsense” come from?
The word “nonsense” dates back to around 1610. From non- ("no, not") plus sense, coined around the 1610s.
Is “nonsense” a common word?
“Nonsense” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “nonsense” have?
“Nonsense” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: words, ideas, or behavior that make no sense or have no logical meaning.
What is the difference between 'nonsense' and 'gibberish'?
'Nonsense' is language, ideas, or behavior that has no logical meaning or makes no sense. 'Gibberish' more specifically means speech or writing that is unintelligible, sounding like meaningless strings of words or sounds.
Is 'nonsense' countable or uncountable?
'Nonsense' is normally an uncountable noun, so you say 'that is nonsense,' not 'a nonsense.' In some informal British usage 'a nonsense' does appear, as in 'it made a nonsense of the plan,' but the uncountable form is standard.
What is the difference between 'nonsense' and 'rubbish'?
Both can mean foolish or meaningless talk, as in 'that's nonsense' or 'that's rubbish.' The difference is that 'rubbish,' chiefly British, can also mean literal trash, while 'nonsense' refers only to a lack of sense or meaning.
What is nonsense literature?
Nonsense literature is a playful, absurd style of writing or poetry that deliberately defies logic and ordinary meaning. It often uses invented words, silly situations, and wordplay for comic or whimsical effect, as in limericks and nonsense verse.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include nonsense:
