DictionaryAI

nuance

SayNYOO-ahns/ˈnju.ɑns/UK/ˈnjuː.ɑːns//ˈnjʉː.ɐːns/

Pluralnuances

Verbnuances, nuancing, nuanced

2 meanings of nuance

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  1. 1
    nouncountable or uncountable
    A subtle difference in meaning, expression, tone, or feeling; subtlety, or attention to fine distinctions.

    The debate left little room for nuance, with each side reducing the issue to a slogan.

    A good translator catches the nuances of tone that a word-for-word version loses.

    UsageWithout a for the quality, lack nuance, with nuance; plural for fine differences: the nuances of a language.

    Similarsubtlety, shade, nicety, refinement

  2. 2
    adjust slightlyverbtransitive
    To change or redefine something subtly, adding a slight shade of difference to it.

    In the revised edition, the author nuances several of his earlier claims about the war.

    Diplomats spent the night trying to nuance the statement so that neither side would take offense.

    UsageYou can nuance a claim, nuance an argument, or nuance your understanding of something.

    Similarqualify, refine, temper

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Origin

Borrowed from French nuance ("nuance, shade, hue"), which goes back through several steps to Latin nūbēs.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

  • English nuance was borrowed from French nuance, meaning “nuance, shade, hue”. en.wiktionary.org
  • The word ultimately derives through intermediate steps from Latin nūbēs. en.wiktionary.org