nude

American  

[nood, nyood] / nud, nyud /

adjective

nuder, nudest

1. naked or unclothed, as a person or the body.

   Synonyms:

   exposed, undressed, uncovered

2. without the usual coverings, furnishings, etc.; bare.

   a nude stretch of land laid waste by brush fires.

3. (of a photograph, painting, statue, etc.) being or prominently displaying a representation of the nude human figure.

4. Law. made without a consideration or other legal essential.

   a nude contract.

5. having the color nude.

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noun

1. a sculpture, painting, etc., of a nude human figure.

2. an unclothed human figure.

3. the condition of being unclothed.

   to sleep in the nude.

4. (no longer in common use; now considered offensive) a light grayish-yellow brown to brownish-pink color.

5. a color that falls within the spectrum of human skin colors.

nude British  

/ njuːd /

adjective

1. completely unclothed; undressed

2. having no covering; bare; exposed

3. law

   1. lacking some essential legal requirement, esp supporting evidence

   2. (of a contract, agreement, etc) made without consideration and void unless under seal

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noun

1. the state of being naked (esp in the phrase in the nude )

2. a naked figure, esp in painting, sculpture, etc

Sensitive Note

See flesh color.

Pronunciation

See new .

Other Word Forms

• nudely adverb
• nudeness noun
• seminude adjective
• subnude adjective

Etymology

Origin of nude

1525–35; < Latin nūdus; naked

Example Sentences

In July 2006, Manhattan prosecutors charged Doyle with the theft of a bronze sculpture of a nude dancer by French impressionist Edgar Degas valued at $600,000.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Her lips, coated in a nude lipstick, are pursed just enough to achieve the perfect pout.

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2025

The seven of us fall on a spectrum that ranges from Aquaphor to nude Armani lipstick.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 21, 2024

At the same time, scholars and collectors are taking a new look at artists who were previously excluded from the canon because of the naturalistic, warts-and-all approach they took to the nude.

From New York Times • Apr. 3, 2024

It was what is known as a kouros—a sculpture of a nude male youth standing with his left leg forward and his arms at his sides.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• naked