Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

nuance

/ˈnju.ɑns/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.09 in modern English

Syllables: nu-ance
IPA: /ˈnju.ɑns/

8

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A minor distinction.

Countable

noun

Subtlety or fine detail.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

To apply a nuance to; to change or redefine in a subtle way.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"hidden nuances"
"Understanding the basics is easy, but appreciating the nuances takes years."
"[…] the richer our collections become, the more numerous are the proofs that all is more or less shaded (nuance), that the remarkable differences become obliterated […]"
"It’s a miracle Lindsey Graham has met the concept of nuance. And this is the man who once warned “the world is literally about to blow up.” So you’re not dealing with someone who likes to dabble with grey areas."

Etymology

Borrowed from French nuance (“nuance, shade, hue”). Omitting several steps, from Latin nūbēs. Compare typologically Italian sfumatura (< Latin fūmus).

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: nūbēs

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈnju.ɑns/
British English: /ˈnjuː.ɑːns/

Usage

Inflected Forms

nuances (plural) nuances (present, singular) nuancing (participle, present) nuanced (participle, past) nuanced (past)

Derived Forms

nuanced nuanceless nuancely

Synonyms

nicety shade subtlety refinement

Questions

How do you pronounce nuance?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈnju.ɑns/.
What does nuance mean?: A minor distinction.
Where does nuance come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce nuance

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “nuance”.
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