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nonce

The correct spelling is nonce.

How to pronounce nonce

/nɒns/
noun

IPA: /nɒns/

Say it like: Non-se

The correct spelling is nonce. The one or single occasion; the present reason or purpose (now only in for the nonce). For example: "That will do for the nonce, but we'll need a better answer for the long term."

Usage Examples

That will do for the nonce, but we'll need a better answer for the long term.

I had thought that the term was a nonce, but it seems as if it's been picked up by other authors.

1989 "assorted nonces, ponces and murderers, 'the worst men in the world' [...] on the nonce wing, where the child-killers, molesters and various perverts have to be protected from the other prisoners." (New Statesman, New Society, Volume 2, Statesman & Nation Publishing Company Limited)

Meanings

noun

  1. 1.The one or single occasion; the present reason or purpose (now only in for the nonce).
  2. 2.A nonce word.
  3. 3.A value constructed so as to be unique to a particular message in a stream, in order to prevent replay attacks.
  4. 4.(prisons) A sex offender, especially one who is guilty of sexual offences against children.
  5. 5.(prisons) A police informer, one who betrays a criminal enterprise

adjective

  1. 1.One-off; produced or created for a single occasion or use. Denoting something occurring once.

Similar words

Words related in meaning — check their spelling too.

View synonyms & usage examples