noun phrase

American  

noun

Grammar.

1. a construction that functions syntactically as a noun, consisting of a noun and any modifiers, as all the men in the room who are reading books, or of a noun substitute, as a pronoun.

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noun phrase British  

noun

1.  NP.  grammar a constituent of a sentence that consists of a noun and any modifiers it may have a noun clause, or a word, such as a pronoun, that takes the place of a noun

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Etymology

Origin of noun phrase

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Every day is a noun phrase meaning “every day.”

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

PoetiX asked for systems able to produce “humanlike” sonnets in response to a noun phrase prompt.

From Slate • Jul. 11, 2017

It’s because “to greenlight” was formed anew from a noun phrase, “a green light”.

From Economist • Sep. 22, 2016

"Like" is a preposition, said the accusers, and may take only a noun phrase object, as in "crazy like a fox" or "like a bat out of hell".

From The Guardian • Aug. 15, 2014

The noun phrase containing view is the subject of the third is-phrase, is not based on a lack of understanding.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker