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Definition of nan
nan
/næn/
nan
Plural:nans
nan Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
3
Tier
1
Usage
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• noun
1
British An affectionate and informal term for a grandmother.
Example
"I am going to visit my nan this weekend for Sunday roast and a cup of tea."
2
A type of leavened, oven-baked or tawa-fried flatbread native to India, Central Asia, and the Middle East, often brushed with ghee and garlic.
Example
"We ordered a large bowl of chicken tikka masala with garlic nan on the side."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for nanWord Nuance & Usage
When referring to the traditional Asian flatbread, the word is more commonly spelled 'naan'. In computing contexts, it may appear as 'NaN' (Not a Number).
• Rhymes for nan
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Word Origin & Etymology
As an affectionate term for a grandmother, it originated in the 20th century as a childish shortening of 'nanny' or 'gran'. As a type of bread, it derives from the Persian word 'nān', meaning 'bread' or 'food'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nan. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nan