nuisance

UK: /ˈnjuːs^əns/ US: /ˈnusəns, ˈnju-/ ,(no̅o̅′səns, nyo̅o̅′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

nui•sance /ˈnusəns, ˈnyu-/   n. [countable]

1. one that is unpleasant, inconvenient, or annoying:
   Ants are a nuisance at a picnic.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

nui•sance  (no̅o̅′səns, nyo̅o̅′-), n. 

1. an obnoxious or annoying person, thing, condition, practice, etc.:
   a monthly meeting that was more nuisance than pleasure.
2. Law something offensive or annoying to individuals or to the community, esp. in violation of their legal rights.

• Anglo-French, equivalent. to nuis(er) to harm ( Latin nocēre) + -ance -ance
• late Middle English nu(i)sa(u)nce 1375–1425

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nuisance / ˈnjuːsəns/ noun

1. a person or thing that causes annoyance or bother
2. (as modifier): nuisance calls
3. something unauthorized that is obnoxious or injurious to the community at large (public nuisance) or to an individual, esp in relation to his or her ownership or occupation of property (private nuisance)
4. nuisance value ⇒ the usefulness of a person's or thing's capacity to cause difficulties or irritation

Etymology: 15th Century: via Old French from nuire to injure, from Latin nocēre