nonsense

[ non-sens, -suhns ]
See synonyms for nonsense on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. words or language having little or no sense or meaning.

  2. conduct, action, etc., that is senseless, foolish, or absurd: to have tolerated enough nonsense.

  1. impudent, insubordinate, or otherwise objectionable behavior: He doesn't have to take that nonsense from you.

  2. something absurd or fatuous: the utter nonsense of such a suggestion.

  3. anything of trifling importance or of little or no use.

  4. Genetics. a DNA sequence that does not code for an amino acid and is not transcribed (distinguished from sense).

Origin of nonsense

1
First recorded in 1605–15; non- + sense

Other words for nonsense

Other words from nonsense

  • non·sen·si·cal [non-sen-si-kuhl], /nɒnˈsɛn sɪ kəl/, adjective

Words Nearby nonsense

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use nonsense in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nonsense

nonsense

/ (ˈnɒnsəns) /


noun
  1. something that has or makes no sense; unintelligible language; drivel

  2. conduct or action that is absurd

  1. foolish or evasive behaviour or manners: she'll stand no nonsense

  2. things of little or no value or importance; trash

interjection
  1. an exclamation of disagreement

Derived forms of nonsense

  • nonsensical (nɒnˈsɛnsɪkəl), adjective
  • nonsensically, adverb
  • nonsensicalness or nonsensicality, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for nonsense

nonsense

[ nŏnsĕns′ ]


  1. Relating to a mutation in a structural gene that changes a nucleotide triplet into a stop codon, thus prematurely terminating the polypeptide chain during protein synthesis. See more at point mutation.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with nonsense

nonsense

see stuff and nonsense.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.