nil

¹ American  

[nil] / nɪl /

noun

1. nothing; naught; zero.

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adjective

1. having no value or existence.

   His credit rating is nil.

NIL ² American  

abbreviation

1. name, image, likeness: aspects of a collegiate athlete’s identity for which they may earn money from a third party, as for advertising sponsorship or merchandise sales, although they are prohibited from being paid directly by colleges and universities for their participation in intercollegiate sports.

   Student-athletes should report NIL activities consistent with state law or school and conference requirements to their school.

   The NCAA decision about NIL has forever changed college football, allowing players to make money for the first time.

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nil British  

/ nɪl /

noun

1. another word for nothing: used esp in the scoring of certain games

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Etymology

Origin of nil¹

First recorded in 1805–15; from Latin nīl, variant of nīlum, contraction of nihilum “nothing,” equivalent to ne- “not” + hīlum “trifle”

Origin of NIL²

First recorded in 2021; by abbreviation

Explanation

Use the word nil to mean "zero," especially when you're talking about scores in a sporting event: "the final score was twelve-nil." Saying nil instead of zero or nothing is much more common in Britain than in the United States. In the U.S. you might hear a tennis score include the word nil, while in the U.K. it's a common term for cricket and football scores as well. There's also a common British medical usage, "nil by mouth," a doctor's instruction not to eat or drink before surgery. Nil is a contraction of the Latin word for "nothing," nihil.

Example Sentences

But the odds Labour lawmakers would approve such reforms are nil, and the argument for elevating Mr. Streeting has more to do with his personal charm than his policy views.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

In just over three years, AI usage has gone from almost nil, to something 62% of Americans report using several times a week, according to the Pew Research Center.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

But as USC prepares to take on Maryland, one of the Big Ten’s worst pass defenses, the chanceof Lincoln Riley replacing his quarterback apparently is nil.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2024

Former Wales captain Sam Warburton said: "Wales have to win. I know we're talking about progress, but that would be bad to be nil from five."

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2024

And the chances of it being in order at all times were nil, for I knew that, as with my father, the authorities would always find something wrong with my pass.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane