nuisance
NYOO-suhns
/ˈnjuː.səns/
A person, thing, or circumstance causing inconvenience or annoyance.
Can range from a mild personal annoyance to a formal legal term ('public nuisance') describing an activity that interferes with the rights of the public.
The story behind the word. Nuisance has a surprisingly sharp history. It comes from the Old French 'nuisance' (meaning hurt or harm), which traces back to the Latin verb 'nocere', meaning 'to hurt'. Over the centuries, the English legal system softened the word from meaning actual physical harm to meaning an annoying interference with one's enjoyment of land.
Word relationships
- annoyance: Annoyance refers to the feeling of irritation, whereas nuisance refers to the actual source or object causing that irritation.
- irritant: Irritant is often used in physical or biological contexts, while nuisance is preferred for social, environmental, or legal disruptions.
- convenience: A convenience makes life easier or more comfortable, whereas a nuisance makes it more difficult.
- benefit: A benefit provides positive help or advantage, directly opposing the negative disruption of a nuisance.
Commonly confused with
- hazard: A hazard is a source of physical danger, whereas a nuisance is primarily a source of annoyance or inconvenience.
Word family
- nuisances (noun): Plural form; multiple annoying things or legal infractions.
Collocations
- public nuisance
- minor nuisance
- constitute a nuisance
Idioms & expressions
- make a nuisance of oneself
Example sentences
- "The neighbor's barking dog became an absolute nuisance, keeping the entire block awake past midnight." Neighborhood dispute
- "The court ruled that the abandoned factory was a public nuisance and ordered its immediate demolition." Legal context on public property
Memory hook
The word 'nuisance' starts with 'nui', which sounds like 'annoy'. A nuisance is an annoyance! Nuisance noise annoys.
When not to use
Do not use for severe tragedies or major disasters; a nuisance is fundamentally an irritation or inconvenience, not a catastrophe.
Fun facts
- In English common law, there is a specific 'tort of nuisance' which allows landowners to sue neighbors for things like bad smells, loud noises, or escaping water.
Related words
Explore more words
disturbance, intrusive, disorderly conduct, disruption, abatement, intruder
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