no-mark
LowInformal/Slang
Definition
Meaning
A person regarded as insignificant, worthless, or a failure.
Someone who has achieved nothing of note or has no distinguishing qualities, often implying contempt or dismissal.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A strongly derogatory noun, often used dismissively or insultingly. It denotes a person's lack of status, achievement, or importance in a social or professional context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a British slang term. It is rarely used in American English, where terms like 'loser', 'nobody', or 'zero' are more common.
Connotations
Strongly pejorative and dismissive. More class-conscious in UK usage, often implying a lack of ambition or achievement from a societal perspective.
Frequency
Uncommon in modern speech but still understood in the UK. Very rare to the point of being unrecognizable in mainstream American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He is a [no-mark].They treated him like a [no-mark].Don't listen to that [no-mark].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's a no-mark from nowhere.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Very rare, highly unprofessional and insulting. Could be used in extremely informal, disparaging talk about a competitor or failed colleague.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Informal insult among (primarily UK) speakers, often in working-class or youth contexts.
Technical
Not used in any technical register.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He was a complete no-mark at school.
- Ignore him, he's just a no-mark.
- The manager dismissed the new recruit as a total no-mark who'd never amount to anything.
- Despite his big talk, everyone knew he was a no-mark in the industry.
- The political commentator derided the backbench MP as an irrelevant no-mark whose opinions carried no weight in Westminster.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a test paper with NO MARK from the teacher — it's so bad/unremarkable it doesn't even get graded. A 'no-mark' person leaves no impression.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTH/ACHIEVEMENT IS A VISIBLE MARK (A 'mark' of distinction). Lacking such marks means being worthless.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "нет отметки".
- The meaning is closer to "ничтожество" or "ноль без палочки".
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'He is no-mark'). It is a noun.
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it in American contexts where it is not understood.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'no-mark' most likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily British slang. An American is far more likely to say 'loser' or 'nobody'.
No, it is exclusively a noun. You cannot say 'a no-mark person'. You say 'He is a no-mark'.
It is strongly derogatory, dismissive, and insulting. It implies the person is worthless and has achieved nothing.
Yes, the standard spelling is with a hyphen: no-mark.