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• nano
  nano

  noun

  nanotechnology.
• nano-
  nano-

  a combining form with the meaning “very small, minute,” used in the formation of compound words (nanoplankton ); in the names of units of measure it has the specific sense “one billionth” (10-9 ).
• nano–
  nano–

  A prefix that means:

nano

¹ American  

[nan-oh, nay-noh] / ˈnæn oʊ, ˈneɪ noʊ /

noun

1. Informal. nanotechnology.

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nano- ² American  

especially before a vowel, nanno-;

1. a combining form with the meaning “very small, minute,” used in the formation of compound words (nanoplankton ); in the names of units of measure it has the specific sense “one billionth” (10-9 ).

   nanomole; nanosecond.

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nano- British  

combining form

1. n. denoting 10 ^–9

   nanosecond

2. indicating extreme smallness

   nanoplankton

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nano– Scientific  

1. A prefix that means:

2. Very small or at a microscopic level, as in nanotube. In this sense, this prefix is sometimes spelled nanno–, as in nannoplankton.

3. One billionth, as in nanosecond, one billionth of a second.

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nano- Cultural  

1. A prefix meaning one billionth.

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Usage

What does nano- mean? Nano- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “very small, minute.” In names of units of measure, it means "one billionth." It is often used in scientific and technical terms. Nano- comes from Greek nânos or nánnos, meaning “dwarf.”What are variants of nano-?In some rare instances, nano- is spelled with a double -n-, becoming nanno-, as in nannofossil. When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, nano- becomes nan-, as in nanoid. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use nan- article.

Etymology

Origin of nano¹

By shortening

Origin of nano-²

Combining form representing Greek nânos, nánnos dwarf

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nano nano-

After the iPod, there was an iPod mini, an iPod nano and an iPod shuffle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026

By blocking current from flowing in at the edges and corners, the design ensures stable and reliable operation of the nano light-emitting diode.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 4, 2026

Wie, a professor of organic and nano engineering at Hanyang University in South Korea.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2025

"We hypothesize that this nano chitin fiber will be able to be absorbed by the plant, for better plant production or biostimulant functions in the soil or as a kind of fertilizer," says Luo.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 21, 2024

“Glue. The nano kind. You can stick your shoes to the ceiling with this stuff and hang upside down.”

From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld

The work was carried out using the facilities of OtaNano, Finland's national research infrastructure for nano-, micro- and quantum technologies.

From Science Daily ● May 21, 2026

The researchers then examined the plaque and found polyethylene micro- and nano- particles in 150 of the patients.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2024

As the "nano-" prefix implies, nanoplastics are very small pieces of plastic, less than 100 nanometers in size, that are released into the environment as a result of plastic disintegration.

From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2023

He’s a senior staff process engineer, with a focus on nano- and micro-assembly, at a company that makes computer hard drives.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2022

See the entries on micro-, pico-, and nano- for more information on connotative jargon use of these terms.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Guy L. Steele