ex nihilo nihil fit

[ eks ni-hi-loh ni-hil fit; English eks nahy-hi-loh nahy-hil fit, nee-hi-loh -nee-hil ]

/ ɛks ˈnɪ hɪˌloʊ ˈnɪ hɪl ˈfɪt; English ɛks ˈnaɪ hɪˌloʊ ˈnaɪ hɪl ˈfɪt, ˈni hɪˌloʊ ˈni hɪl /

Save This Word!

Latin.

nothing is created from nothing.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby ex nihilo nihil fit

Exmoor, ex more, Exmouth, ex new, ex nihilo, ex nihilo nihil fit, exo-, exobiology, exobiota, exocarp, exocentric

How to use ex nihilo nihil fit in a sentence

From the principle ex nihilo nihil fit he concluded that nothing could pass from non-existence to existence.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I|John Lord
Hence the generally accepted principle, "ex nihilo nihil fit."
A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy|Isaac Husik
This is the assumption known as the Law of Causation—ex nihilo nihil fit.
Logic, Inductive and Deductive|William Minto
This is so in the nature of things, and it is only what is implied in the maxim, Ex nihilo nihil fit.
The Catholic World; Vol. IV.; October, 1866, to March, 1867.|E. Rameur

He could not beleeve the old position; he would say ex nihilo nihil fit.
Brief Lives (Vol. 1 of 2)|John Aubrey