Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

nonevent

American  
[non-i-vent] / ˌnɒn ɪˈvɛnt /

noun

  1. an event or situation that is anticipated but does not occur or occurs with much less than the expected impact, especially one that has been widely publicized; anticlimax.

  2. an occurrence of only superficial interest or content; a dull or insignificant occasion.


nonevent British  
/ ˌnɒnɪˈvɛnt /

noun

  1. a disappointing or insignificant occurrence, esp one predicted to be important

"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

Etymology

Origin of nonevent

First recorded in 1935–40; non- + event

Vocabulary lists containing nonevent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But he insists that “could have been the biggest nonevent ever” if only OpenAI had conducted “basic cybersecurity.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Many fine festivities will take place on and around July 4, but compared with the years-long nationwide celebration that marked this country’s 200th anniversary, 250 feels like a nonevent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

That’s indeed the priceless nonevent stuff of life.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 31, 2025

Sometimes I get angry about the disparity of health, however much of a nonevent hearing disability is when compared to other maladies.

From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2024

The most important reason for optimism comes from a nonevent: The long-predicted recession of 2023 simply hasn’t happened.

From New York Times ● Jul. 21, 2023

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training