nuisance

[noo-suhns, nyoo-]

noun

1. an obnoxious or annoying person, thing, condition, practice, etc..

   a monthly meeting that was more nuisance than pleasure.

2. Law.,  something offensive or annoying to individuals or to the community, especially in violation of their legal rights.

nuisance

/ ˈnjuːsəns /

noun

1. 1. a person or thing that causes annoyance or bother

   2. ( as modifier )

      nuisance calls

2. law something unauthorized that is obnoxious or injurious to the community at large ( public nuisance ) or to an individual, esp in relation to his ownership or occupation of property ( private nuisance )

3. the usefulness of a person's or thing's capacity to cause difficulties or irritation

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuisance¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English nu(i)sa(u)nce, from Anglo-French, from nuis(er) “to harm” (from Latin nocēre “to harm, injure”) + -ance -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuisance¹

C15: via Old French from nuire to injure, from Latin nocēre

Idioms and Phrases

see make a nuisance of oneself.

Example Sentences

Johnson Wen, 26, was convicted Monday of being a public nuisance and sentenced to nine days in jail, the BBC reported.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Johnson Wen, 26, was found guilty of being a public nuisance over the high-profile incident last Thursday at the Asia premiere for Wicked: For Good.

Read more on BBC

“It stopped feeling like good luck, and started feeling like a nuisance.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There was no reason for him to remember any of these encounters, and he didn’t: When my book came out, and became a public relations nuisance to him, he’d told reporters we’d never met.

Read more on Literature

He was a nuisance for the Hammers last time out.

Read more on BBC