non-existent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "non-existent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that does not exist or is not present. Example: "The evidence for his claims was non-existent, leading to doubts about his credibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That is non-existent.

The Guardian

Inflation is non-existent.

The Guardian

Non-existent, in fact.

The Guardian - Sport

Almost non-existent.

The Washington Post

Tarmac is almost non-existent.

The Economist

Waiting-lists are non-existent.

The Economist

It would be non-existent.

The New Yorker

The Non-existent knight.

Stanford University

Wine was virtually non-existent.

Independent

Military solutions are non-existent.

Independent

This week, it's non-existent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "non-existent" to emphasize the complete absence of something, rather than simply stating its rarity or scarcity. For example, "The support for the policy was non-existent" implies a total lack of support.

Common error

Avoid using "non-existent" when you mean something is just uncommon or rare. "Non-existent" implies a complete absence, so using it for something that exists in small quantities can be misleading. Instead of saying "Job opportunities were non-existent", consider "Job opportunities were scarce" if some opportunities actually existed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "non-existent" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying a noun to indicate that the noun does not exist or is entirely absent. Ludwig examples show it describes everything from hopes to evidence. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "non-existent" effectively conveys the complete absence of something and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans across various domains, most prominently News & Media. When using "non-existent", ensure it truly reflects complete absence rather than mere scarcity. Consider alternatives like "absent" or "lacking" to accurately reflect the intended meaning. Remember to keep the register consistent with your audience, ensuring your writing is both precise and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inexistent

A synonym for "non-existent", though less commonly used.

absent

Replaces the entire phrase with a single adjective, directly stating the lack of presence.

not present

Uses a more descriptive approach to convey that something is not there.

without existence

A more verbose way of saying something does not exist, adding emphasis.

lacking

Indicates that something is missing or deficient.

not to be found

Indicates the absence of something, often after a search or expectation.

void

Implies an emptiness or lack of something, often in a more abstract sense.

null

Often used in technical or formal contexts to denote the absence of a value or entity.

unreal

Emphasizes that something does not exist in reality, often implying it's imaginary.

gone

Suggests that something was present before but is no longer there.

FAQs

How can I use "non-existent" in a sentence?

You can use "non-existent" to describe something that does not exist at all. For example, "The evidence for the claim was "non-existent"" or "Hopes of finding survivors are now "non-existent"".

What are some alternatives to the word "non-existent"?

Some alternatives to "non-existent" include "absent", "lacking", "void", or "not present". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "non-existent" or "inexistent"?

"Non-existent" is the more common and widely accepted term. "Inexistent" is a valid synonym, but it is used far less frequently.

What does it mean when something is described as "virtually non-existent"?

When something is described as "virtually "non-existent"", it means that it is so rare or insignificant that it's practically the same as being completely absent. For example, "4K content is virtually "non-existent"" implies there's very little 4K content available.