nonce word
C2Specialised / Formal / Academic
Definition
Meaning
A word coined or used for a single specific occasion or purpose, often in a particular context.
A term created on the spur of the moment, not expected to enter the general lexicon. It can also refer to a word used by an author or speaker to illustrate a point, often found in linguistics and literature. In computational linguistics, it sometimes refers to a word not in a system's dictionary.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term 'nonce' itself is an archaic word meaning 'for the present occasion'. A nonce word is by definition temporary, but some historically famous ones (like 'quark' or 'chortle') have become permanent additions to the language. This is an ironic exception to the term's meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or use. It is a formal, specialised term in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical, academic/literary in both varieties.
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation; frequency is similar in both AmE and BrE academic/professional contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to coin [a nonce word]to use [a nonce word] in [a sentence][a word] is considered [a nonce word]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in linguistics, literary criticism, and philology to discuss lexical innovation.
Everyday
Extremely rare; used mainly by linguists, writers, or highly educated speakers.
Technical
Used precisely in linguistics and computational linguistics to describe tokens not in a lexicon.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The poet felt the need to nonce-word 'slithy' to perfectly describe the creature.
American English
- The author nonce-worded 'grok' in his novel, but it later became part of the English language.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Quark' was a nonce word in James Joyce's *Finnegans Wake*, before physicists used it for a particle.
- My daughter invented a nonce word, 'sploft', to describe the sound of a cushion hitting the floor.
- The lexicographer distinguished between a true neologism and a mere nonce word by tracking its usage over several years.
- Lewis Carroll's 'Jabberwocky' is filled with nonce words like 'vorpal' and 'frumious', which were never intended for standard use.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A nonce word is for 'NONCE and once only.' Think of it as a 'once-off' word.
Conceptual Metaphor
A linguistic firework (bright, temporary, for a specific moment).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'неологизм' (neologism). A neologism is a new word that may become established. A nonce word is not intended to be permanent.
- Do not confuse with 'слово-паразит' (filler word). A nonce word is a specific creation, not a repetitive utterance.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'nonce word' to describe any newly invented word, regardless of its intended permanence.
- Confusing it with 'portmanteau' (a blend of two words) or 'nonsense word' (like 'jabberwocky').
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the best example of a 'nonce word'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A nonsense word is meaningless. A nonce word is created for a specific occasion and might have a clear, context-derived meaning, even if it is never used again.
Yes, ironically. Some words coined as 'nonce words' gain popularity and become permanent, like 'chortle' (Lewis Carroll) or 'quark' (James Joyce, later adopted in physics). When this happens, they cease to be nonce words.
It is primarily used by linguists, lexicographers, literary scholars, and writers. It's a technical term of the trade.
A neologism is a newly coined word or expression that enters the language or a specific domain. A nonce word is created for a single, temporary use. All nonce words start as potential neologisms, but most neologisms were not intended as nonce words.