nuance

American  

[noo-ahns, nyoo-, noo-ahns, nyoo-, ny-ahns] / ˈnu ɑns, ˈnyu-, nuˈɑns, nyu-, nüˈɑ̃s /

noun

plural

nuances

1. a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc.

   Synonyms:

   refinement, nicety, subtlety, shading, shade

2. a very slight difference or variation in color or tone.

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verb (used with object)

nuanced, nuancing

1. to give nuance to; to color.

   She carefully nuanced her words, to put a positive spin on the situation.

nuance British  

/ njuːˈɑːns, ˈnjuːɑːns /

noun

1. a subtle difference in colour, meaning, tone, etc; a shade or graduation

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verb

1. to give subtle differences to

   carefully nuanced words

nuance Cultural  

1. A fine shade of meaning: “I liked the film, but I know I missed some of its nuances.”

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Other Word Forms

• nuanced
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nuance

First recorded in 1775–85; from French: “shade, hue,” equivalent to nu(er) “to shade” (literally, “to cloud”), from unattested Vulgar Latin nūbāre, derivative of unattested nūba, for Latin nūbēs “cloud”) + -ance noun suffix; see -ance

Explanation

Use nuance to refer to a very small difference in color, meaning, or feeling. What makes singers brilliant is not how loud they can sing a note, but how many nuances they can evoke through their approach. Pronounced "NOO-ahns," this noun was borrowed from French in the 18th century and derives ultimately from Latin nūbēs "a cloud." Think of clouds––subtle gradations in color to understand this word. When you say a work of art was nuanced, it means there was a lot to it, but incorporated subtly.

Example Sentences

Nuance and understanding are viewed as signs of weakness.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

Nuance did not make for a compelling stump speech, and Vargas Llosa had little appetite for crowds.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2025

One attendee held up a sign that read “Zionists for Nuance and Peace.”

From Slate • Oct. 7, 2024

Nuance is everything, and we don’t ask the right questions in the press about the nuance, and the administration doesn’t supply answers either.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2024

Nuance, strategy, and anything beyond the rudimentaries of technique were wasted on Chris.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• distinction
• gradation
• hint
• implication
• nicety
• refinement
• subtlety