Etymologically
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nonsense

Etymology and origin of the English word nonsense

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1612

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈnɒn.səns/ (UK); /ˈnɑn.sɛns/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from non- and sense,[2][3][4] perhaps influenced by French nonsens.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Words without meaning or conveying absurd ideas: 1612 in MWU, 1614 in the OED, the 1610s in Etymonline.[5][6][2]

Semantic evolution

A piece of nonsense, or a muddle, is from before 1643,[6] absurdity from 1630,[6] and worthless stuff from 1638.[6] No nonsense, no foolish conduct, is from 1821.[6] Since the mid-20th century the hyphenated non-sense has been used for what is simply not sense, without implying absurdity (1942).[2][6] Nonsense verse, light verse such as Edward Lear's, follows.[7][8] Nonsensical is from the 17th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 1612 – meaningless words.[5]
  • 1630 – absurdity.[6]
  • 1638 – worthless stuff.[6]
  • 1821 – no nonsense.[6]
  • 1942 – non-sense, without absurdity.[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Words or ideas that have no meaning or make no sense; rubbish.
  2. Foolish or unacceptable behaviour.
  3. Something of no importance.

Interjection

  1. Used to express strong disagreement.

Word family

  • nonsensical
  • nonsensically
  • nonsensicalness
  • no-nonsense

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  8. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Nonsense.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/nonsense. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·