nonsense

/ˈnɒn.səns/

//ˈnɒn.səns// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"nonsense" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“nonsense” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,067 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,067
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Letters or words, in writing or speech, that have no meaning or pattern or seem to have no meaning.

Key facts for nonsense
PropertyValue
Headwordnonsense
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈnɒn.səns/
Letters8
Frequency rank#5,067
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “nonsense” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). nonsense lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for nonsense is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈnɒn.səns/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,067 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for nonsense, with forms such as "nnonsense", "nnosense", and "nonesnse". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From non- (“no, none, lack of”) + sense, from c. 1610. Compare the semantically similar West Frisian ûnsin (“nonsense”), Dutch onzin (“nonsense”), German Unsinn (“nonsense”), English unsense (“nonsense”). The correct English form is nonsense, spelled N-O-N-S-E-N-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Letters or words, in writing or speech, that have no meaning or pattern or seem to have no meaning.
  2. 2
    An untrue statement.
  3. 3
    That which is silly, illogical and lacks any meaning, reason or value; that which does not make sense.
  4. 4
    Something foolish.
  5. 5
    A type of poetry that contains strange or surreal ideas, as, for example, that written by Edward Lear.
  6. 6
    A damaged DNA sequence whose products are not biologically active, that is, that does nothing.

Etymology

From non- (“no, none, lack of”) + sense, from c. 1610. Compare the semantically similar West Frisian ûnsin (“nonsense”), Dutch onzin (“nonsense”), German Unsinn (“nonsense”), English unsense (“nonsense”).

Synonyms

falsehoodlieuntruthabsurdityrubbishtoshabsurditysillinesscontradictionstupidityunreasoningall my eyeall my eye and Betty Martinapplesaucebafflegabbalderdashballsbaloneybanana oilBandinibaragouinbatcrapbatshitbilgewaterblahblatherblatherskitebobbinsbollocksboshBSbullbullcrapbulldustbull feathersbullshitbullspeakbunkbunkumbushwahclamjamfreyclaptrapcobblerscodswallopcrapcrockcrock of shitdouble Dutchdouble talkdoublespeakdribbledriveleyewashfiddle-faddleflapdoodleflim-flamflizzflummeryfolderolfoolishnessfootleframisfuckeryfuckryfudgegalimatiasgarbagegarblegibbergibberishgobbledygookgossipGreekguffguphoaxhocus-pocushogwashhokumhooeyhorse cockhorsefeathershorse hockeyhorse pisshorse puckeyhorseshithumbugIrish bulljabberjargonjibber-jabberjimjamjivejunklallationmacaronimalarkeymanuremeaninglessnessmoonshinemumbo jumbonertznonsensepie in the skypifflepigswillpoppycockprattleput-onrhubarbrhubarb rhubarbrigmarolerotrusesantorumshitshiteskimble-skamblesquitstuffstuff and nonsensetommy-rottrittle trattletushtrashtripetwaddlewasswhiff-whaffword salad

Antonyms

nonnonsenseplain Englishsense

This word in other languages

tontería(Español)bêtise(Français)Blödsinn(Deutsch)bobagem(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: nnonsense,nnosense,nonesnse,nonnsense,nonsenes,nonsennse,nonsensse,nonsesne,nonsnese,nonssense,nosnense,onnsense

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of nonsense - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

nnonsense1nnosense2nonesnse2nonnsense1nonsenes2nonsennse1nonsensse1nonsesne2
Edit distance from "nonsense"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "nonsense"?
"nonsense" is spelled N-O-N-S-E-N-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈnɒn.səns/.
What does "nonsense" mean?
As a noun, "nonsense" means: Letters or words, in writing or speech, that have no meaning or pattern or seem to have no meaning.
What are common misspellings of "nonsense"?
Common misspellings include "nnonsense", "nnosense", "nonesnse", "nonnsense", "nonsenes". The correct spelling is "nonsense".
How do you pronounce "nonsense"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "nonsense" is /ˈnɒn.səns/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "nonsense"?
From non- (“no, none, lack of”) + sense, from c. 1610. Compare the semantically similar West Frisian ûnsin (“nonsense”), Dutch onzin (“nonsense”), German Unsinn (“nonsense”), English unsense (“nonsense”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “nonsense”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is N-O-N-S-E-N-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈnɒn.səns/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list