nuance

American  

[noo-ahns, nyoo-, noo-ahns, nyoo-, ny-ahns] / ˈnu ɑns, ˈnju-, nuˈɑns, nju-, nüˈɑ̃s /

noun

nuances plural

1. a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc.

   Synonyms:

   refinement, nicety, subtlety, shading, shade

2. a very slight difference or variation in color or tone.

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verb (used with object)

nuanced, nuancing

1. to give nuance to; to color.

   She carefully nuanced her words, to put a positive spin on the situation.

nuance British  

/ njuːˈɑːns, ˈnjuːɑːns /

noun

1. a subtle difference in colour, meaning, tone, etc; a shade or graduation

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verb

1. to give subtle differences to

   carefully nuanced words

nuance Cultural  

1. A fine shade of meaning: “I liked the film, but I know I missed some of its nuances.”

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nuanced
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nuances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nuance

First recorded in 1775–85; from French: “shade, hue,” equivalent to nu(er) “to shade” (literally, “to cloud”), from unattested Vulgar Latin nūbāre, derivative of unattested nūba, for Latin nūbēs “cloud”) + -ance noun suffix; see -ance

Explanation

Use nuance to refer to a very small difference in color, meaning, or feeling. What makes singers brilliant is not how loud they can sing a note, but how many nuances they can evoke through their approach. Pronounced "NOO-ahns," this noun was borrowed from French in the 18th century and derives ultimately from Latin nūbēs "a cloud." Think of clouds––subtle gradations in color to understand this word. When you say a work of art was nuanced, it means there was a lot to it, but incorporated subtly.

Example Sentences

There is an important nuance to the changes Warsh has made to Fed communications so far.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 19, 2026

In moments when opportunity is cloaked in nuance, we have long relied upon John Marshall, Goldman Sachs’ derivatives strategist.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

As committees selectively release documents, context and nuance evaporate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

“There’s an authenticity to noir. Nothing is just black or white. Everything is chiaroscuro and there’s complexity and depth and nuance to each of the characters,” Cage explains.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

He taught ideas of nuance and complexity in his classes and yet he was asking her for a single reason, the cause.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• distinction
• gradation
• hint
• implication
• nicety
• refinement
• subtlety