nondescript

[ non-di-skript ]

adjective

1. of no recognized, definite, or particular type or kind:

   a nondescript novel; a nondescript color.

   Synonyms: unexceptional, ordinary, usual

2. undistinguished or uninteresting; dull or insipid:

   The private detective deliberately wore nondescript clothes.

noun

1. a person or a thing of no particular or notable type or kind.

nondescript

/ ˈnɒndɪˌskrɪpt /

adjective

1. lacking distinct or individual characteristics; having no outstanding features

noun

1. a nondescript person or thing

Word History and Origins

Origin of nondescript¹

1675–85; non- + Latin dēscrīptus (past participle of dēscrībere to describe, define, represent; describe )

Word History and Origins

Origin of nondescript¹

C17: from non- + Latin dēscriptus, past participle of dēscribere to copy, describe

Example Sentences

It’s a sturdy, nondescript oval that’s good for headphones made to travel.

From Popular-Science

A few packed duffle bags later, they made a rendezvous in the middle of the night — James and Fred in one car, and Rick in another — at a nondescript and remote warehouse off I-280, where they stashed their vans.

From Vox

One Parisian building looks nondescript, but a sign reveals it’s the home of a venerable art school.

From Washington Post

It went with grey sweatpants and was completely nondescript.

From Time

Part of a nondescript campus of warehouses that are home to the plumbing of the modern financial system—as well as servers for social media, telecoms and streaming companies—the site is the unglamorous side of today’s stock trading.

From Fortune

I met Hutcherson at a nondescript hotel suite in downtown Toronto.

From The Daily Beast

In between a female sex shop and trendy boutiques is a nondescript store selling all manner of bras, corsets, and other lingerie.

From The Daily Beast

My sleep is again hot and disrupted, but thankfully the dreams are nondescript.

From The Daily Beast

At the center of allegations about a political cover-up is a nondescript Edwardian terraced house in West London.

From The Daily Beast

Less than 25 minutes from the Navy Yard, Sharpshooters Small Arms Range is the definition of nondescript.

From The Daily Beast

A black hat, wide of brim and carefully creased, replaced the nondescript felt affair which Bill usually wore.

From Project Gutenberg

He thought, in fact, that Daphne was spoiling the dear nondescript old place, and he knew that the neighbourhood thought so too.

From Project Gutenberg

A nondescript following conducted us to the post-office, where we met a very different type of man.

From Project Gutenberg

A room was got ready, and presently we all three sat down to a nondescript meal which poor Anna believed to be dinner.

From Project Gutenberg

The pilot and one of the nondescript men were the first over.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• uninspiring
• unremarkable