nuance

American  

[noo-ahns, nyoo-, noo-ahns, nyoo-, ny-ahns] / ˈnu ɑns, ˈnyu-, nuˈɑns, nyu-, nüˈɑ̃s /

noun

plural

nuances

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.

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verb (used with object)

nuanced, nuancing

1. to give nuance to; to color.

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

nuance British  

/ njuːˈɑːns, ˈnjuːɑːns /

noun

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

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verb

1. to give subtle differences to

   carefully nuanced words

nuance Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• nuanced adjective

Etymology

Origin of nuance

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; see -ance

Explanation

Use nuance to refer to a very small difference in color, meaning, or feeling. What makes singers brilliant is not how loud they can sing a note, but how many nuances they can evoke through their approach. Pronounced "NOO-ahns," this noun was borrowed from French in the 18th century and derives ultimately from Latin nūbēs "a cloud." Think of clouds––subtle gradations in color to understand this word. When you say a work of art was nuanced, it means there was a lot to it, but incorporated subtly.

Example Sentences

"For writers, this nuance matters: the language we choose shapes how readers understand AI systems, their capabilities and the humans responsible for them," Mackiewicz said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026

Dr Richard Oakley, from the Alzheimer's Society, said: "It's essential that we interpret this review with nuance and avoid taking a sledgehammer to decades of pioneering scientific study."

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

A lot more nuance will be offered by executives of retailers, hotels, cruise lines, auto dealers and restaurant chains in the coming weeks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Anyone who reads “Fairview” will understand the challenge of producing it, but I don’t think I fully appreciated how much stylistic nuance is in play.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

They see the nuance of the costumes, the intricacy of the signs.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

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