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Definition of nonstarter

nonstarter

/ˌnɑːnˈstɑːr.tɚ/
(UK: non-starter)
non · star · ter
Plural:nonstarters
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nonstarter Lexical Profile

nonstarter Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person, plan, or idea that has no chance of succeeding or being effective from the very beginning.

Example

"Raising taxes during an economic recession was considered a complete nonstarter by the committee."

2

A horse or athlete entered in a race that fails to line up or compete at the start.

Example

"After injuring a tendon during the warm-up, the favored stallion was declared a nonstarter."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for nonstarter

• Nearby Words

nonspecialist
nonspecific
nonstandard
nonstarter
nonstick
nonsticky
nonstop

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century in horse racing to describe an entered horse that is withdrawn before the race begins, before acquiring its figurative sense of a doomed proposal in the 1920s.

Cite this Entry

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