nil

[ nil ]

/ nɪl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nil ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

nothing; naught; zero.

adjective

having no value or existence: His credit rating is nil.

Nearby words

Origin of nil

1805–15; < Latin nīl, variant (by apocope) of nīlum, contraction of nihilum nothing, equivalent to ni (variant of ne not) + hīlum trifle

Definition for nil (2 of 3)

nil admirari

[ neel ahd-mee-rah-ree; English nil ad-mi-rair-ahy, -rair-ee ]

/ ˈnil ˌɑd miˈrɑ ri; English ˈnɪl ˌæd mɪˈrɛər aɪ, -ˈrɛər i /

Latin.

to wonder at nothing.

Definition for nil (3 of 3)

nil desperandum

[ neel des-pe-rahn-doo m; English nil des-puh-ran-duh m ]

/ ˈnil ˌdɛs pɛˈrɑn dʊm; English ˈnɪl ˌdɛs pəˈræn dəm /

Latin.

never despair.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nil

They knew that as much as they tried to make up for it with brute force, their cultural power was nil.
Of Gamers, Gates, and Disco Demolition: The Roots of Reactionary Rage|Arthur Chu|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
USA had four points (three for a win over Ghana, one for the draw with Portugal, nil for Thursday's defeat).
Why It’s Still OK to Hate Sexy Bastard Cristiano Ronaldo After He Saved Team USA|Emily Shire|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The chances of even the most “conscious” rap creating a return to the Great Society were nil.
How Barack and Michelle Have Normalized Black Prominence|John McWhorter|May 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sadly, the chances of the government taking any notice are pretty close to nil.
Britain’s Weight Crisis Almost Hits U.S. Proportions|Dan Jones|February 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST

They may be nil, they may be enormous, or (more likely) they may fall somewhere in between.
Why I Supported The Palestine U.N. Vote|Jay Michaelson|November 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
His knowledge of Constantinople seemed to be nil, while the information he got out of me would not have filled his opium pipe.
Caught by the Turks|Francis Yeats-Brown
Our Arabic at that time was nil; there was no chance of a word with the ploughman unless through Mohammed.
In the Tail of the Peacock|Isabel Savory
We must be able to say of it: nil actum reputans, si quid superesset agendum.
A Commentary to Kant's 'Critique of Pure Reason'|Norman Kemp Smith
These old-fashioned folk had not learnt the trick of nil admirari.
The Life of John Ruskin|W. G. Collingwood
His constitution enabled him to protest against reduction to nil.
Ginx's Baby|Edward Jenkins

British Dictionary definitions for nil (1 of 2)

nil

/ (nɪl) /

noun

another word for nothing: used esp in the scoring of certain games

Word Origin for nil

C19: from Latin

British Dictionary definitions for nil (2 of 2)

nil desperandum

/ (ˈnɪl ˌdɛspəˈrændəm) /

sentence substitute

never despair

Word Origin for nil desperandum

from Latin, literally: nothing to be despaired of

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nil

nil

"nothing," 1833, from Latin nil, contraction of nihil, nihilum "nothing, not at all; in vain," from ne- "not" (see un-) + hilum "small thing, trifle," of unknown origin.

nil

noun

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of nil

Definition for nil (2 of 3)

nil admirari

Latin.

Definition for nil (3 of 3)

nil desperandum

Latin.

Examples from the Web for nil

British Dictionary definitions for nil (1 of 2)

nil

noun

Word Origin for nil

British Dictionary definitions for nil (2 of 2)

nil desperandum

sentence substitute

Word Origin for nil desperandum

Word Origin and History for nil

nil