nonentity

noun

non·​en·​ti·​ty ˌnän-ˈen-tə-tē How to pronounce nonentity (audio)
-ˈe-nə-
1
: something that does not exist or exists only in the imagination
2
3
: a person or thing of little consequence or significance

Examples of nonentity in a Sentence

the arctic circle is a nonentity—you won't see it on the way to the north pole was so quiet he was almost a nonentity at the meeting
Recent Examples on the Web At the time the house was a nonentity, the models dull, the clients wealthy women who did not dress in the latest styles. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2024 Putin appointed a political nonentity in his place, shifted himself to the position of prime minister, and came right back for a third presidential term in 2012 and then a fourth. Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024 The central father-son dynamic feels forced rather than rooted in history, and Freddy is a nonentity, undefined as a character except in relation to his meddling dad. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023 But at its peak, Insys was also a fascinating study in how a nonentity could become a major player by using institutionalized practices. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for nonentity 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nonentity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonentity was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near nonentity

Cite this Entry

“Nonentity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonentity. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nonentity

noun
non·​en·​ti·​ty nä-ˈnen(t)-ət-ē How to pronounce nonentity (audio)
plural nonentities
1
: something that does not exist or exists only in the imagination
2
: a person of no importance

More from Merriam-Webster on nonentity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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