no-nonsense
Americanadjective
-
not tolerating anything frivolous or trifling; firm and businesslike.
a no-nonsense approach to money matters; a no-nonsense teacher with well-behaved classes.
- Synonyms:
- purposeful, resolute, diligent, earnest
-
economical or utilitarian; practical.
a no-nonsense car that gets excellent gas mileage.
-
plain and simple; not fancy, complicated, or elegant.
no-nonsense recipes for easy preparation.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of no-nonsense
First recorded in 1925–30
Explanation
Someone who's no-nonsense is very efficient and businesslike. If you're extremely practical and don't see the point of wasting time, you're no-nonsense. Some teachers like to joke around with students, while others are much stricter than that — they are stern and no-nonsense. A brand new English teacher might resolve to start using more no-nonsense techniques in the classroom if he realizes his class isn't getting quite enough accomplished. The adjective no-nonsense was first used in 1920s sporting slang, originally in the phrase "to stand to no nonsense."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Created with AI, the videos feature a toddler version of Judge Judy overseeing cases with her signature New York accent and no-nonsense barbs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
What to know: The fourth movie in the “Meet the Parents” canon pits Ben Stiller’s Gaylord Focker against his son’s girlfriend, a no-nonsense former FBI hostage negotiator played by Ariana Grande.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
She wore no-nonsense sneakers with pink swooshes and carried two FedEx boxes.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Barry has become a recognisable figure during this tournament thanks to his no-nonsense half-time television interviews during England's matches.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Agent Andrus drove Jake in a sleek black sedan to the FBI’s flag-draped, no-nonsense, honeycomb-of-concrete headquarters building on Pennsylvania Avenue.
From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
