Nan
noun
a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter N.
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Nan
1 American
[nan]
/ næn /
noun
-
a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter N.
-
a female given name.
nan-
2
American
nan
British
/ næn /
noun
Usage
What does nan- mean? Nan- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “very small, minute.” In names of units of measure, it means "one billionth." It is very occasionally used in scientific and technical terms. Nan- comes from Greek nânos or nánnos, meaning “dwarf.”What are variants of nan-?Nan- is a variant of nano-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use nano- article.
Etymology
Origin of nan
see nanny ; compare Greek nanna aunt, Medieval Latin nonna old woman
Vocabulary lists containing nan
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.
See Examples For:
"Nan is sad and devastated really and had enjoyed living independently especially," she said.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
About five years ago, Nan Ransohoff, then head of climate at payments company Stripe, had an idea to get things moving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
Before the pandemic, China's burgeoning middle class produced plenty of first-time high-end buyers, said Lisa Nan, editor at Jing Daily, a publication that focuses on China's luxury market.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
Hiding in plain sight that night, among the patrons scattered throughout the museum, was photographer and activist Nan Goldin, along with several members of her advocacy group, P.A.I.N.
From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2026
Nan and I had a Relocation Rule for this kind of predicament: When something is totally new, pretend it isn’t.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
"When I called my nan, I told her I was okay, but granscha looked like he was drowning and we needed help," Marley said.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
"It is really good to go back to Longford and Leitrim, go back to where our granddad went to school, where our nan grew up, it was very special."
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
He also had a tattoo on his right arm which said "nan" along with a clover and the colours of the Irish flag.
From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2026
"My nan would take the bets," he said.
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026
“Your nan could never understand why Louise and I loved this show.”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
