nondescript
non-dih-SKRIPT
/ˌnɒndɪˈskrɪpt/
Lacking interesting or distinctive characteristics or features.
Describes something so plain or ordinary that it is hard to describe or remember.
The story behind the word. Literally 'not described'. If something is so plain that you can't find any unique words to 'describe' it, it is 'nondescript'.
Word relationships
- unremarkable: Unremarkable means not worthy of notice; nondescript means having no features to notice.
- featureless: Featureless is more extreme, suggesting a total lack of detail.
- distinctive: Distinctive things stand out; nondescript things blend in.
- striking: Striking things grab attention; nondescript things are ignored.
Commonly confused with
- vague: Vague means unclear; nondescript means clear but boringly ordinary.
Collocations
- nondescript building
- nondescript clothing
- nondescript appearance
Example sentences
- "The spy lived in a nondescript apartment building that blended perfectly into the gray street." Mystery Novel
- "He was a nondescript man of middle age, the kind of person you would pass in the hall and never notice." Description
Memory hook
Non-Descript = No Description possible because it's so boring. Too plain to describe.
When not to use
Don't use 'nondescript' for something ugly; use it for something boring or 'blah'.
Fun facts
- The word was originally used in biology to describe a species that had not yet been formally described in scientific literature.
Explore more words
unobtrusive, obscurity, monotony, unassuming, indifferent, plodding
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