a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter N.
a female given name.
What does nan- mean? Nan- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “very small, minute.” In names of units of measure, it means "one billionth." It is very occasionally used in scientific and technical terms. Nan- comes from Greek nânos or nánnos, meaning “dwarf.”What are variants of nan-?Nan- is a variant of nano-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use nano- article.
see nanny ; compare Greek nanna aunt, Medieval Latin nonna old woman
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In one widely read post, Stripe’s head of climate, Nan Ransohoff, called for the sector to “dramatically expand” capacity to field an estimated increase of $50 billion a year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
The upper house, meanwhile, elected Nan Ni Ni Aye, a regional MP from Karen state with USDP, as another vice-president, the junta said in a statement.
From Barron's ● Mar. 31, 2026
And Nan Goldin has been on both sides of that spectrum and lived to tell the tale.
From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2026
There will be full live Sportsound commentary of both qualifiers on BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Nan Gaidheal and BBC Sounds.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2025
Abby sat with Nan at the kitchen table while a lady old enough to be personal friends with Betsy Ross, sewer of the first US flag, hobbled around the kitchen.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
"When I called my nan, I told her I was okay, but granscha looked like he was drowning and we needed help," Marley said.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
In 2021, Amy-Jane paid £4,000 for private surgery with help from her mum and nan.
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026
Redknapp’s nan would tell him to “stick a pen in a couple“ that would be her bets for the day.
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar had originally proposed increasing bills by 9.5%, but the local authority's policy and resources committee backed a lower figure of 8.5%, which was confirmed on Tuesday.
From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2026
“Your nan could never understand why Louise and I loved this show.”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
