non est

American  

[non est] / ˈnɒn ˈɛst /

noun

Law.

1. the returning of a sheriff's writ when the person to be arrested or served with it cannot be found in the sheriff's jurisdiction.

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Etymology

Origin of non est

1865–70; < Latin: short for non est inventus (he) was not found

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

non est

Rather than share my opinion on that pairing, I’ll follow the Latin dictum de gustibus non est disputandum: “There can be no disputes in matters of taste.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

“De gustibus non est disputandum,” as the Romans would put it, Latin for “Your poor taste isn’t my problem.”

From Washington Post ● Sep. 27, 2021

Russert may be right that this is the law, but in the immortal words of St. Augustine, lex iniusta non est lexas—”an unjust law is no law at all.”

From Slate ● Mar. 4, 2021

De gustibus non est disputandum, but recent winners like Bon Iver and Mumford and Sons, among others, already have the familiar tones of Muzak.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 13, 2013

James F. Smith, commanding the First Californias, was non est inventus, and so was a large part of his regiment.

From The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912 by Blount, James H.