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

The supervisor informed the Bards that not only were they in violation of having a home business, but they also were possibly looking at a second ding for having nuisance insects on their property.

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The demolition, which began this week, came after a panel of Los Angeles city commissioners appointed by Mayor Karen Bass voted in August to declare much of the site a public nuisance.

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Three Just Stop Oil activists who sprayed Stonehenge with orange powder have been cleared of causing a public nuisance.

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He's responsible for the upkeep of the church - and says the bats started to become a nuisance about 15 years ago.

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An unhappy employee is more likely to engage in contrarian or insubordinate behavior and will generally create a nuisance.

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