nonsense

Pronunciation: /ˈnɑn.sɛns/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a message that seems to convey no meaning
  2. noun ornamental objects of no great value
  3. adjective having no intelligible meaning

Etymology

From non- (“no, none, lack of”) + sense, from c. 1610. Compare the semantically similar West Frisian ûnsin (“nonsense”), Dutch onzin (“nonsense”), German Unsinn (“nonsense”), English unsense (“nonsense”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

bunk, nonsensicality, meaninglessness, hokum

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
message
Narrower (hyponyms)
buzzword, jabberwocky, rigmarole, baloney, fa la, incoherence

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