nuance

[ noo-ahns, nyoo-, noo-ahns, nyoo-; French ny-ahns ]

noun

, plural nu·anc·es [noo, -ahn-siz, nyoo, -, noo-, ahn, -siz, nyoo-, n, y, -, ahns].

1. a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc.

   Synonyms: refinement, nicety, subtlety, shading, shade

2. a very slight difference or variation in color or tone.

verb (used with object)

, nu·anced, nu·anc·ing.

1. to give nuance to; to color:

   She carefully nuanced her words, to put a positive spin on the situation.

nuance

/ njuːˈɑːns; ˈnjuːɑːns /

noun

1. a subtle difference in colour, meaning, tone, etc; a shade or graduation

verb

1. to give subtle differences to

   carefully nuanced words

nuance

1. A fine shade of meaning: “I liked the film, but I know I missed some of its nuances.”

Other Words From

• nu·anced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuance¹

First recorded in 1775–85; from French: “shade, hue,” equivalent to nu(er) “to shade” (literally, “to cloud”), from unattested Vulgar Latin nūbāre, derivative of unattested nūba, for Latin nūbēs “cloud”) + -ance noun suffix; -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuance¹

C18: from French, from nuer to show light and shade, ultimately from Latin nūbēs a cloud

Example Sentences

There is a lot of nuance on this issue.

From Salon

That’s a complicated question too, and the answer demands nuance.

From Salon

None of this nuance is reflected in the TikTok trend, which reduces Timmy, and by extension wheelchair users and disability, to one-dimensional ridicule.

From BBC

“She has such nuance. It’s all in her eyes.”

From Los Angeles Times

They might currently be sitting pointless and 11 places below Celtic in the Champions League table, but the nuance comes with the knowledge that it was Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Liverpool they lost to, all by a single goal.

From BBC

Related Words

• distinction
• gradation
• hint
• implication
• nicety
• refinement
• subtlety