# nuance

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈnjuː.ɑːns/ · frequency rank #25,861

## Definitions
1. A minor distinction.
2. Subtlety or fine detail.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French nuance (“nuance, shade, hue”). Several steps omitting from Latin nūbēs.
Compare typologically Italian sfumatura (< Latin fūmus).

## Easily confused with
- **nuanced** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nuance-vs-nuanced)
- **nuisance** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nuance-vs-nuisance)
- **nancy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nancy-vs-nuance)
- **nance** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nance-vs-nuance)

## Common misspellings (9)
`naunce`, `nnuance`, `nuacne`, `nuancce`, `nuanec`, `nuannce`, `nuence`, `nunace`, `unance`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/nuance