What does annoyance mean?
Annoyance is a noun describing the mild anger or irritation a person feels when bothered by something unpleasant, inconvenient, or persistent — a dripping tap, a delayed train, a repetitive question. It also refers, in its countable sense, to the source of that irritation itself: a buzzing fly can be called an annoyance. The word occupies the lower end of the emotional spectrum of displeasure, well short of anger or fury, which makes it useful for expressing frustration without exaggeration. It is standard in both British and American English and appears frequently in everyday conversation, journalism, and fiction. Common phrases include 'a source of annoyance' and 'a minor annoyance'. Related forms include the verb annoy, from which it derives. Its history links it to Old French enui and ultimately to Latin roots connected with hatred and harm, giving the word a surprisingly old pedigree for so everyday a feeling.
The state or feeling of being irritated or mildly angry.
"He could barely conceal his annoyance at the repeated interruptions."
Often used with expressions of degree such as 'slight', 'mild', or 'considerable'.
A person, thing, or circumstance that causes irritation.
"Losing your house keys is a familiar annoyance."
In this sense annoyance is typically countable.
The plural applies to the countable sense — individual things or incidents that irritate — not to the uncountable feeling itself.
"The report listed a series of small annoyances that added up to a serious problem."
Annoyance and 'noise' are cousins — both trace back to the same Latin root for harm or hatred, which is why irritating things have long been called noisy in spirit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of annoyance
Annoyance derives from the verb annoy, which entered English from Old French anoier (also enuier), meaning to trouble or vex, itself from Late Latin inodiare, 'to make hateful', based on Latin odium, 'hatred'. The noun form became established in English by the late Middle English and early modern period. Cognates sharing this lineage include noise and noisome, which preserve the same root through different branches of Old French.
How annoyance is actually used
Annoyance denotes a milder degree of displeasure than anger or rage; it is neutral in register and common in everyday speech and writing. It can refer either to an internal feeling or, as a countable noun, to the external cause of that feeling.
Easily confused with annoyance
Annoy is the verb meaning to irritate someone, while annoyance is the noun referring to the resulting feeling or to the irritating thing itself.