Nov 14, 2024 · Discover the meaning of the slang term 'nonce' in British culture, its origins, implications, and its impact on society. Understand why responsible language matters.

Nonce first appeared in Middle English as a noun spelled "nanes." The spelling likely came about from a misdivision of the phrase "then anes." ("Then" was the Middle English equivalent of …

Mar 19, 2025 · According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “nonce” is a slang term used in the U.K. to describe someone who is accused of a sex crime. It is primarily used to describe someone …

Mar 21, 2025 · The Cambridge Dictionary, spelling it "nonce," defines it as "a person who commits a crime involving sex, especially sex with a child."

Mar 21, 2025 · The phrase “for the nonce” dates back to Middle English and was used to describe something temporary or for a specific occasion. Writers like Geoffrey Chaucer and William …

Dec 16, 2025 · Noun nonce (plural nonces) (archaic, now only in for the nonce) The one or single occasion; the present reason or purpose.

nonce in American English (nɑns) noun the present, or immediate, occasion or purpose (usually used in the phrase for the nonce)