nobody

American  

[noh-bod-ee, -buhd-ee, -buh-dee] / ˈnoʊˌbɒd i, -ˌbʌd i, -bə di /

pronoun

1. no person; not anyone; no one.

   Nobody answered, so I hung up.

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noun

plural

nobodies

1. a person of no importance, influence, or power.

nobody British  

/ ˈnəʊbədɪ /

pronoun

1. no person; no-one

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noun

1. an insignificant person

nobody Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing nobody

• like crazy (nobody's business)

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Etymology

Origin of nobody

First recorded 1300–50; Middle English; see origin at no ², body

Compare meaning

How does nobody compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• no one vs. nobody

Explanation

Use the word nobody to mean "no one," or for someone who's completely unimportant or insignificant. It's not nice to call someone a nobody; everyone wants to be a somebody. If nobody is at home, you can ring the doorbell for an hour and get no response, and if nobody in your family likes pizza, there's no reason to order it for dinner. Since nobody means "no person," it's come to also have the meaning "insignificant person." It's hard not to feel like a nobody when your sister becomes famous after starring in a popular movie.

Example Sentences

Nobody has a bad word to say about him.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

Nobody found joy watching the dials turn on their electricity meters.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

Security officials told its owner, Mr Nobody Against Putin documentarian Pavel Talankin, that it could be used as weapon and couldn't be transported in his carry-on luggage.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

“Mr. Nobody Against Putin” won the documentary feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards in March.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

“But I’m not sure. She told them how they better dress if they were going to Europe. She said that bustles are over. Bustles are completely over in Europe. Nobody even remembers bustles.”

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• nothing