nix

¹

[niks]

noun

1. nothing.

verb (used with object)

1. to veto; refuse to agree to; prohibit.

   The VP of Publishing nixed the project.

adverb

1. no.

interjection

1. Archaic.,  (used as an exclamation, especially of warning).

   Nix, the cops!

nix

²

[niks]

noun

plural

nixes 

1. (in Germanic folklore) a water spirit that draws its victims into its underwater home.

nix

¹

/ nɪks /

1. another word for no 1

2. be careful! watch out!

noun

1. a rejection or refusal

2. nothing at all

verb

1. (tr) to veto, deny, reject, or forbid (plans, suggestions, etc)

nix

²

/ nɪks /

noun

1. German myth a male water sprite, usually unfriendly to humans

Word History and Origins

Origin of nix¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from German, variant of nichts “nothing”

Origin of nix²

1825–35; < German Nix, Old High German nihhus; cognate with Old English nicor water monster, Old Norse nykr, Norwegian nøkk, Swedish näck; compare Sanskrit nenekti (he) washes

Word History and Origins

Origin of nix¹

C18: from German, colloquial form of nichts nothing

Origin of nix²

C19: from German Nixe nymph or water spirit, from Old High German nihhus; related to Old English nicor sea monster

Example Sentences

The city council nixed the plan in September after the engineers bumped their cost estimates to as much as $1.2 billion.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The organization’s leadership nixed a plan for the U.S.

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The retail giant plans to nix ingredients including titanium dioxide, a food coloring, and azodicarbonamide, used to help bread rise consistently.

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Plus, the university has nixed what was once a required class on diversity and equity in the classroom from the program altogether, she said.

Read more on Salon

It comes as California students return to the classroom after RFK Jr. nixed the CDC’s recommendation that they receive booster shots.

Read more on Los Angeles Times