nuisance
B1Formal to informal
Definition
Meaning
A person, thing, or situation causing annoyance, inconvenience, or trouble.
In legal contexts (nuisance law): an act, activity, or condition interfering with another person's comfortable enjoyment of life or property.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun; rarely used adjectivally ('nuisance call', 'nuisance suit'). The core sense is subjective, describing a source of irritation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. The word is equally common and carries identical meaning.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in tone than informal alternatives like 'pain' or 'hassle'. Can sound polite when used to complain.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be a nuisancecause a nuisanceregard something as a nuisanceconsider something a nuisanceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “make a nuisance of oneself”
- “a necessary nuisance”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describing administrative burdens or inefficiencies: 'The new filing requirements are a nuisance for the accounting team.'
Academic
Used in legal, sociological, or environmental studies: 'The court assessed whether the factory emissions constituted a private nuisance.'
Everyday
Complaining about minor irritations: 'The roadworks outside my house are such a nuisance.'
Technical
In telecommunications or engineering: 'Nuisance alarms were filtered out by the updated algorithm.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He was served with a nuisance abatement order.
- We've been getting nuisance calls all week.
American English
- The city issued a citation for a nuisance property.
- She filed a nuisance lawsuit against her neighbor.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My little brother can be a nuisance when he's bored.
- The loud music from next door is a nuisance.
- It's a real nuisance that the bus is always late.
- I don't want to be a nuisance, but could you help me move this table?
- The constant software updates are becoming something of a nuisance.
- Flying insects are considered a public nuisance in this area during summer.
- The judge ruled that the noise from the construction site constituted a statutory nuisance.
- While essential, the new security protocol is regarded as a necessary nuisance by the staff.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
NEW-SENSE. Imagine something NEW irritates your SENSES.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANNOYANCE IS AN UNWANTED OBJECT / ANNOYANCE IS A BURDEN.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'неприятность' (which is closer to 'unpleasantness').
- Not typically used for serious disasters; it's for persistent, smaller irritations.
- The legal term 'nuisance' does not directly correlate with a single Russian legal term.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'nuicance', 'nuasance'.
- Overuse for very serious problems (hyperbole is possible but can sound odd).
- Attempting to use it as a verb (*'He nuisanced me').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'nuisance' used most technically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, commonly. For example: 'That salesman is a real nuisance.'
It spans registers. It can be used formally (in law) and informally in everyday complaints.
'Nuisance' often implies a more tangible, concrete source of trouble, while 'annoyance' can be a fleeting feeling. They are often interchangeable.
It's pronounced like the 'u' in 'new' (/njuː/ in UK English, /nuː/ in US English). The 'i' is silent.