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Definition of nil

nil

/nɪl/
nil
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nil Lexical Profile

nil Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Nothing, or the number zero, especially as a score in certain games or sports.

Example

"The home team won the match by three goals to nil."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• adjective

1

Nonexistent; amounting to nothing or zero.

Example

"Visibility on the mountain road was nearly nil during the blizzard."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

In British and Commonwealth English, 'nil' is the standard term for a score of zero in team sports such as football and rugby (where American English uses 'nothing' or 'zero'), whereas 'love' is used in tennis.

• Rhymes for nil

• Nearby Words

nihilism
nihilist
nihilistic
nil
nila
nile
nile crocodile

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-19th century from Latin nil, a contracted form of nihil meaning 'nothing', literally 'not a thread' (from ne- 'not' and hilum 'small thing, thread').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Nil. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/nil
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