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nil

noun
\ ˈnil How to pronounce nil (audio) \

Definition of nil

: nothing, zero
Other Words from nil Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about nil

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Other Words from nil

nil adjective

Examples of nil in a Sentence

They took a 2 to nil lead in the second half of the game. the difference in the audio performance of those two CD players is nil

Recent Examples on the Web

 The shots that ring out are jarring and harsh, the dramatic impact nil. — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Kitchen': Film Review," 7 Aug. 2019 With high pressure building in overhead, storm odds are quite low to nil. — Washington Post, "D.C.-area forecast: Dangerously hot through Sunday, with heat index values of 110 to 115 degrees possible," 19 July 2019 The visibility of Dominicans in Boston was practically nil until well into the 1990s. — Rita Indiana, BostonGlobe.com, "The David Ortiz shooting and the corruption of the Dominican dream," 12 July 2019 Among the key flaws of the policy is that 95% of Medicaid enrollees already work or participate in activities that met the necessary threshold or are exempt, which means the ability of the rule to materially affect employment is close to nil. — Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, "Confirmed: Medicaid work rules are a health disaster for the poor and don’t affect work," 21 June 2019 The chance that these books offer any genuinely interesting insights into this significant time in history are close to nil. — John Warner, chicagotribune.com, "From Pete Buttigieg to Kamala Harris, it's the season of campaign books. But why bother?," 13 June 2019 The differences are maximum at angles of 60 and 120 degrees, and minimum (nil) at 0, 90 and 180 degrees. — Quanta Magazine, "Solution: ‘Taming Quantum Weirdness’," 10 Mar. 2017 Zero-zero, or nil-nil, as soccer aficionados like to say. — Nick Hoppe, SFChronicle.com, "Orphans find families wherever they can," 2 July 2018 Unlike products such as flour, lettuce’s shelf life is short: Opportunities to test the offending crop range from limited to nil. — Jan Hoffman, New York Times, "Romaine Riddle: Why the E. Coli Outbreak Eludes Food Investigators," 7 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of nil

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for nil

Latin, nothing, contraction of nihil, from Old Latin nihilum, from ne- not + hilum trifle — more at no

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More Definitions for nil

nil

noun
How to pronounce nil (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of nil

: none at all
British : a score of zero

See the full definition for nil in the English Language Learners Dictionary

nil

noun
\ ˈnil How to pronounce nil (audio) \

Kids Definition of nil

: nothing at all : zero The chances of that happening are almost nil.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nil

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with nil

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nil

Spanish Central: Translation of nil

Nglish: Translation of nil for Spanish Speakers

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