a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter N.
a female given name.
What does nan- mean? Nan- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “very small, minute.” In names of units of measure, it means "one billionth." It is very occasionally used in scientific and technical terms. Nan- comes from Greek nânos or nánnos, meaning “dwarf.”What are variants of nan-?Nan- is a variant of nano-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use nano- article.
see nanny ; compare Greek nanna aunt, Medieval Latin nonna old woman
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Before the pandemic, China's burgeoning middle class produced plenty of first-time high-end buyers, said Lisa Nan, editor at Jing Daily, a publication that focuses on China's luxury market.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Hiding in plain sight that night, among the patrons scattered throughout the museum, was photographer and activist Nan Goldin, along with several members of her advocacy group, P.A.I.N.
From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026
“A host of corruption allegations in Chinese arms procurement led to major arms contracts being postponed or canceled in 2024,” said Nan Tian, director of the Sipri Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026
There will be full live Sportsound commentary of both qualifiers on BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Nan Gaidheal and BBC Sounds.
From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025
Right before Nan and I were about to move, I went over to her house.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
