[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/nonsense/)

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# nonsense

noun (nonsense — uncountable); interjection (Nonsense!); adjective (nonsense words, nonsense poems)

«nonsense» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Nonsense is words or ideas that are silly, untrue or have no meaning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#m1)
2. Nonsense is also silly or annoying behaviour, as in "Stop this nonsense!". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#m2)
3. "Nonsense!" is said to disagree strongly with something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#m3)
4. Nonsense words and nonsense poems are made up for fun and do not have real meanings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#m4)

### In the lessons

In reading lessons children read nonsense words (like "blim" or "zort") to practise phonics, and enjoy nonsense poems by Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll. In everyday life a parent may say "That's nonsense" to calm a fear or reject an excuse. In science, a claim with no evidence may be called nonsense. Phrases: "talk nonsense", "utter nonsense", "stuff and nonsense", "no-nonsense", "make nonsense of".

### Examples

- Don't talk nonsense — monsters don't live under your bed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#x1)
- "Jabberwocky" is a famous nonsense poem. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#x2)
- In phonics we read nonsense words like "plim" and "groft". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#x3)
- "I'm too old to play." "Nonsense! Come and join in." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#x4)
- That's enough of this nonsense; sit down, please. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#x5)
- The idea that goldfish remember only three seconds is nonsense. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#x6)
- Our coach is a no-nonsense woman who expects hard work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#x7)
- 'My friend, you are talking nonsense. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/#x8)

### Note

Uncountable: "a lot of nonsense", not "a nonsense" (though British people sometimes say "it makes a nonsense of the rules"). "No-nonsense" is an adjective meaning practical and strict. Similar words: rubbish (UK), rot, baloney (US, informal), codswallop (UK, informal), crap (rude).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «nonsense» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nonsense/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«nonsense» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nonsense.html) on Mova free.