nil

[ nil ]

/ nɪl /

See synonyms for: nil / nils on Thesaurus.com

noun

nothing; naught; zero.

adjective

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

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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

Words nearby nil

Nikolayev, Nikolsky's sign, Nikon, Nikopol, niksen, nil, nil admirari, nil desperandum, Nile, Nile blue, Nile crocodile

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for nil

Senate Democrats’ chances to flip the Senate have been close to nil all week.
What are the odds of Democratic wins in the Georgia runoffs?|Amber Phillips|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
If you select those at lowest risk, the remaining risk is not nil, but it is very low indeed.
Some Volunteers Want To Be Infected With Coronavirus To Help Find A Vaccine. But It Isn’t That Simple.|Kaleigh Rogers (kaleigh.rogers@fivethirtyeight.com)|August 6, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
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

nil

/ (nɪl) /

noun

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

Word Origin for nil

C19: from Latin

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

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nil

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Origin of nil

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British Dictionary definitions for nil

noun

Word Origin for nil

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WORD OF THE DAY

nil

noun

adjective

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Origin of nil

Words nearby nil

Words related to nil

Example sentences from the Web for nil

British Dictionary definitions for nil

noun

Word Origin for nil