nonentity

[ non-en-ti-tee ]

noun

, plural non·en·ti·ties.

1. a person or thing of no importance.

   Synonyms: nullity, zero, mediocrity, cipher, nobody

2. something that does not exist or exists only in imagination.
3. nonexistence.

nonentity

/ ˌnɒnˈɛntɪtɪ /

noun

1. an insignificant person or thing
2. a nonexistent thing
3. the state of not existing; nonexistence

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonentity¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; non- + entity

Example Sentences

Neil describes Yousaf as a "hapless nonentity, who was never up to the job".

From BBC

“California gets caught in Super Tuesday and we become nothing — a nonentity,” says political analyst Tony Quinn.

From Los Angeles Times

In the primary’s final days, New Hampshire Democrats who are supporting Mr. Biden engaged in a bit of self-congratulation while dismissing Mr. Phillips as a nonentity.

From New York Times

Strelkov, a retired security officer who led Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and was convicted of murder in the Netherlands for his role in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet that year, has criticized Putin as a “nonentity” and a “cowardly mediocrity.”

From Seattle Times

He recently criticized Putin as a “nonentity” and a “cowardly mediocrity.”

From Washington Times

Related Words

• cipher