nuisance

[ noo-suhns, nyoo- ]

noun

1. an obnoxious or annoying person, thing, condition, practice, etc.:

   a monthly meeting that was more nuisance than pleasure.

2. Law. something offensive or annoying to individuals or to the community, especially in violation of their legal rights.

nuisance

/ ˈnjuːsəns /

noun

1. 1. a person or thing that causes annoyance or bother
   2. ( as modifier )

      nuisance calls

2. law something unauthorized that is obnoxious or injurious to the community at large ( public nuisance ) or to an individual, esp in relation to his ownership or occupation of property ( private nuisance )
3. nuisance value
   the usefulness of a person's or thing's capacity to cause difficulties or irritation

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuisance¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English nu(i)sa(u)nce, from Anglo-French, from nuis(er) “to harm” (from Latin nocēre “to harm, injure”) + -ance -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuisance¹

C15: via Old French from nuire to injure, from Latin nocēre

Idioms and Phrases

see make a nuisance of oneself .

Example Sentences

My experience working through the many nuisances associated with vacation rentals has shown me that a compromise was the best approach for Mission Beach and is likely the best approach for San Diego.

From Voice of San Diego

The public nuisance complaint came down in January 2020, triggering the evacuation.

From Voice of San Diego

San Diego’s real estate assets director is resigning less than a week after the release of a devastating review of the city’s acquisition of a downtown high-rise that the county declared a public nuisance following a series of asbestos violations.

From Voice of San Diego

Then, in January 2020, after finding debris in a conference room on the seventh floor that was theoretically accessible to city workers, the county issued a public nuisance order.

From Voice of San Diego

A day after the fire started, the county air pollution control agency issued three violations against the Navy, citing the fire’s smoke and odors as a public nuisance under state health and safety and county codes.

From Voice of San Diego

Poetry would be too obvious, too ‘portrait of the artist as a young nuisance’.

From The Daily Beast

If my legs made me a nuisance, I vowed to become less of one.

From The Daily Beast

Other questions: Should nuisance bears be euthanized if they are serial offenders?

From The Daily Beast

Last year, there were a record 6,726, covering “nuisance” behavior, property damage, injuries to bears, and injuries to humans.

From The Daily Beast

It also reduces nuisance, so there is less trouble in the neighborhood.

From The Daily Beast

Beastly nuisance; we shall all have to clear out, for I suppose it won't be a mere matter of scratches.

From Project Gutenberg

It was rather a nuisance, too, to find that wherever he went he excited a considerable amount of attention.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the storage of gasoline in suitable tanks set down in the earth is not a nuisance.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet the business may become a nuisance when conducted in some localities, or in an improper manner.

From Project Gutenberg

I am very much taken with her, which causes Rubinstein to be a perfect nuisance.

From Project Gutenberg