nil
pronunciation
How to pronounce nil in British English:
UK [nɪl]
How to pronounce nil in American English:
US [nɪl]
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- Noun:
- a quantity of no importance
Word Origin
- nil
- nil: [19] Latin nil was a contracted form of nihil ‘nothing’ (source of English nihilism [19]). This in turn was a shortening of an earlier nihilum, a compound formed from the negative particle nī and hīlum ‘small or trivial thing’, and thus denoted etymologically ‘not a jot’.=> nihilism
- nil (n.)
- "nothing," 1833, from Latin nil, contraction of nihil, nihilum "nothing, not at all; in vain," from ne- "not" (see un-) + hilum "small thing, trifle," of unknown origin.
Example
- 1. Prospects for change were almost nil .
- 2. Instead , most were marked down to nil marks for that piece of coursework or exam .
- 3. Beavers do carry a range of parasites but the chances of becoming ill after a walk in the glens are nil .
- 4. The political realm because to be honest chinese cultural acceptance of foreign political criticism is almost nil .
- 5. Japanese makers of mobile phones have the world 's most sophisticated devices but their market share abroad is virtually nil .