naught
C2Literary, formal, archaic, biblical; rarely used in casual conversation.
Definition
Meaning
A formal/literary word for the number zero; nothing.
Used to signify a complete absence, failure, or worthlessness. Can also be used in older or biblical phrases like "set at naught" (to treat as insignificant).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a formal/archaic term. In modern everyday usage, 'zero' or 'nothing' are vastly more common. Its use often conveys a stylistic or deliberate old-fashioned tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'naught' is used in both. 'Nought' is a British spelling variant, especially for the digit zero (e.g., 'noughts and crosses'). In American English, 'naught' is the standard spelling for the literary/formal sense, and 'zero' is used for the number.
Connotations
In both, it carries a formal/archaic tone. The British variant 'nought' for the number is more neutral but still less common than 'zero'.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, but 'nought' as the digit may be slightly more familiar in UK contexts. In US English, the word is almost exclusively literary/archaic.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + to + naught (e.g., come to naught)set + [noun phrase] + at naughtnaught + but + [noun phrase] (e.g., naught but trouble)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All for naught (in vain)”
- “Come to naught (to fail completely)”
- “Set at naught (to disregard or treat as worthless)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in formal reports or historical financial texts: 'The venture's profits amounted to naught.'
Academic
Rare, mostly in historical, literary, or philosophical texts discussing concepts of nothingness or failure.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual speech. 'Zero' or 'nothing' are universal.
Technical
Not used in STEM fields; 'zero', 'null', or 'nil' are standard.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Obsolete; no modern verb use)
American English
- (Obsolete; no modern verb use)
adverb
British English
- (Obsolete; no modern adverb use)
American English
- (Obsolete; no modern adverb use)
adjective
British English
- (Obsolete; no modern adjective use)
American English
- (Obsolete; no modern adjective use)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not taught at this level. Use 'zero' or 'nothing'.)
- (Rarely encountered. Use 'zero' or 'nothing'.)
- The team's valiant efforts in the first half came to naught after a disastrous second half.
- In the end, all his careful planning was for naught.
- The philosopher argued that worldly riches amount to naught in the face of eternity.
- She set societal conventions at naught, pursuing her own unconventional path.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an old knight ('naught' sounds like 'knight') who failed in his quest and ended up with NOTHING (naught).
Conceptual Metaphor
NOTHINGNESS IS A QUANTITY OF ZERO (often with a poetic or negative valuation, e.g., efforts becoming zero).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'not' (не). 'Naught' is a noun, not an adverb.
- It is a very specific, old-fashioned word. The common translation is 'ничто' or 'ноль', but using 'naught' in modern English will sound strangely archaic.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'naught' with 'aught' (which can mean 'anything' or 'zero').
- Using it in modern casual contexts where 'nothing' or 'zero' is appropriate.
- Misspelling as 'nought' in American contexts where 'naught' is expected for the literary sense.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'naught' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Naught' is a noun meaning 'nothing' or 'zero'. 'Not' is an adverb used to make a verb negative.
In American English, use 'naught' for the literary sense. In British English, 'nought' is common for the digit zero (as in 'nought point five'), and 'naught' is also used for the literary sense. For general use, 'zero' or 'nothing' is best.
It's a recognized idiom meaning 'all in vain', but it is formal and literary. In everyday speech, 'all for nothing' is far more common.
It's archaic in this context. Use 'zero'. The British game 'noughts and crosses' is a notable exception.