non

not

Spelled non · non 'not'

Latin non supplies a firm no: nonfiction rejects invention, nonsense lacks sense, and a noncommittal answer avoids a promise.

Words built from it

nonchalant — calm and apparently unconcerned
French non (not) + chalant (caring), from chaloir (care), ultimately Latin calere (be warm)
nonplussed — so puzzled or surprised that one does not know what to do
Latin non (not) + plus (more) → nonplus (a state of being unable to proceed) + -ed
nondescript — lacking noticeable or distinctive features
non- (not) + Latin descriptus (described), from describere (write down, describe)
nonsense — words or ideas that lack meaning or good judgment
non- (not) + sense (meaning)
nonentity — a person regarded as having little importance or influence
non- (not) + entity (a being or existing thing)
nonfiction — writing presented as factual rather than invented
non- (not) + fiction (invented narrative)
noncommittal — avoiding a definite opinion or promise
non- (not) + committal (commitment), from commit + -al

nonagenarian — Its beginning comes from Latin nonaginta (ninety), through nonagenarius, not from non meaning not.