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nonword

American  
[non-wurd] / nɒnˈwɜrd /

noun

  1. a word that is not recognized or accepted as legitimate, as one produced by a spelling or typographical error.

  2. a word whose meaning or use is not approved in a given circumstance.

    “Failure” is a nonword in her vocabulary.


Etymology

Origin of nonword

First recorded in 1960–65; non- + word

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Twenty years later, I carry that nonword around like a sacred incantation, a prayer I say to the rising sun each day: DEODOTANT.

From New York Times

Clinton tweeted back "People in covfefe houses shouldn't throw covfefe," a dig at Trump for tweeting the mystifying nonword.

From Time

Clinton tweeted back “People in covfefe houses shouldn’t throw covfefe,” a dig at Trump for tweeting the mystifying nonword.

From Seattle Times

In an interview on “New Day” on CNN, she was asked by hosts Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota to spell “covfefe,” the bewildering nonword President Trump used in a tweet early on Wednesday morning that set off a stampede of speculation and joking on social media.

From New York Times

The other major challenge in gymnastics music is to reproduce pop hits without their lyrics—though nonword vocals are allowed, which is why we get our double-doubles accompanied by a lot of tonal baby babbling.

From Slate