What does nuisance mean?
A nuisance is something that causes annoyance, irritation, or persistent trouble. It can refer to a person, such as a neighbor who makes constant noise, or to an object, activity, or situation, such as repeated unwanted telephone calls. The word often implies a recurring or especially irritating problem rather than a single minor inconvenience. Nuisances can be practical, such as broken equipment, or social, such as inconsiderate behavior. The term also has a formal legal meaning: a nuisance is a condition, activity, or interference that harms or obstructs the use and enjoyment of property or interferes with rights shared by the public. In that setting, phrases such as 'public nuisance' and 'private nuisance' describe different forms of harmful interference. In general use, calling something a nuisance conveys annoyance without necessarily implying legal wrongdoing, though the word suggests that the trouble is significant enough to disrupt everyday life.
A person, thing, activity, or situation that is annoying, irritating, or troublesome.
"The noisy neighbors were an ongoing nuisance."
Usually countable and often used for a recurring problem.
A condition, activity, or interference that harms or obstructs the use or enjoyment of property or infringes on public rights.
"Neighbors took legal action because the smoke from the factory was a nuisance."
Formal legal usage; particularly common in 'public nuisance' and 'private nuisance.'
The plural is used for multiple annoying people, things, activities, or situations.
"The visitors complained that the repeated announcements were nuisances."
A nuisance may be merely irritating, but in law it can be serious enough to require a remedy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nuisance come from?
The word comes through French from Latin roots associated with harm: French nuisance derives from nuire, 'to harm,' which ultimately comes from Latin nocere, 'to injure.' English borrowed the word in the modern period for something that causes harm or annoyance. Related English words, including noxious, nocuous, and innocent, reflect the same Latin root, although their meanings and formations have developed differently.
How nuisance is actually used
Generally used as a countable noun. The everyday sense is informal to neutral, while the legal sense is formal and denotes a legally actionable interference; the environmental sense often appears in the established phrase 'public nuisance.'
Easily confused with nuisance
A nuisance is typically a troublesome person, thing, or situation, whereas an annoyance often emphasizes the irritating feeling or effect it causes.
A nuisance is usually persistently troublesome or irritating, while an inconvenience is more often a temporary difficulty or disruption.