nuisance

English

Etymology

From Middle English noysaunce, from Anglo-Norman nusaunce, nussance and Old French nuisance, from nuisir (“to harm”), from Latin nocēre. Doublet of nocence and nocency.

Pronunciation

Noun

nuisance (countable and uncountable, plural nuisances)

  1. A minor annoyance or inconvenience.
    The neighbor's dog barking throughout the night is a right nuisance - I'm going to complain.
    What a nuisance to have to go now!
    • 2010, Jeffrey M. Wooldridge, Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data, 2nd edition, The MIT Press, page 407:
      By itself, nondifferentiability at zero is a minor nuisance.
  2. A person or thing causing annoyance or inconvenience.
    You can be such a nuisance when you don't get your way.
    • 2017 March 14, Stuart James, “Leicester stun Sevilla to reach last eight after Kasper Schmeichel save”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 October 2026:
      With Vardy working tirelessly up front, chasing lost causes and generally making a nuisance of himself, Sevilla were never allowed to settle on a night when the atmosphere was electric inside the King Power Stadium.
  3. (law) Anything harmful or offensive to the community or to a member of it, for which a legal remedy exists.
    a public nuisance

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • (antonym(s) of “minor annoyance or inconvenience”): enjoyment

Derived terms

Descendants

  • → Welsh: niwsans

Translations

References

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French nuisance, from nuisir (“to harm”) (compare also French nuire), from Latin nocēre; may correspond to Late Latin nocentia.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /nɥi.zɑ̃s/
  • Rhymes: -ɑ̃s

Noun

nuisance f (plural nuisances)

  1. nuisance
  2. pollution
    Les nuisances sonores sont un véritable fléau dans ce quartier.
    Noise pollution is a real scourge in this neighbourhood.

Further reading

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