nonexistent

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "nonexistent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that does not exist or that does not have any reality. For example, "She realized that all of her hopes for a successful career were completely nonexistent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The country's geopolitical strategic standing as both a hub offering easy links to east and west and a proudly Muslim country in which numerous nationalities and religions happily coexist suggests that the latest cooling technologies and a close to nonexistent crime rate are far from the only reasons why it should win the 2022 vote in Zurich on 2 December.

The Guardian - Sport

It's a way of getting excellent-quality performances to village halls, and serving areas where access to the arts would otherwise be nonexistent: for 30% of their audiences, says Lister, the work that Take Art brings is the only art they get to see.

The Guardian

The six-year-old who described having Yahoos living inside him was one of these rare cases; he heard them constantly speak to him, feared being poisoned, believed he could cast spells, smelt "bugs" in the tap water and saw nonexistent trails in the snow.

The Guardian

Its stakes are so small as to be practically nonexistent: its main point of conflict is the running of a yoga studio, for crying out loud.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I pointed out that my directorial credits were nonexistent, that my wife had even banned me from taking family snaps, but Amanda is not easily deterred.

The Guardian

Automatic promotion is still in their hands but the margin for error is almost nonexistent.

The Guardian - Sport

It is treating space like music, almost nonexistent today in architecture".

The Guardian - Arts

There followed a solemn montage that furthered the "being quite sensitive while conveying the ongoing disintegration of the Brotherhood" vibe: an Annie-less Hunt moping around in his dressing gown and mourning-beard; a nonexistent Fred weeping violently on some cobbles.

The Guardian

Political competition is nonexistent, much of the opposition has been driven abroad or imprisoned, the internet and media are heavily censored and reports of arbitrary imprisonment and torture are frequent.

The Guardian

And it seems that "to enter upon an office" is about as legitimate as "to enter on an office": old-fashioned, but not nonexistent.

The Economist

Which seems like good news, until one reflects on how this dynamic operates:The strong decline in real wage rigidities point to strong "second-round" effects before 1984, and weak or nonexistent ones afterwards 1984.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "nonexistent", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is lacking or absent. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "nonexistent" without specifying what is absent. For example, instead of saying "the problem is nonexistent", specify "the evidence for the problem is nonexistent" to provide clarity.

Linguistic Context

The word "nonexistent" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that they do not exist or lack reality. As stated by Ludwig AI, the term describes something that does not exist or have any reality. For example, "nonexistent trails in the snow."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "nonexistent" is used to describe something that does not exist or lacks reality. According to Ludwig AI, it is a grammatically correct term suitable for various contexts, as demonstrated by its frequent appearance in News & Media and Science. When using "nonexistent", be clear about what exactly lacks existence to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "inexistent" or "unreal" to add nuance. Remember, while the hyphenated form "non-existent" is acceptable, "nonexistent" is more commonly used. In summary, "nonexistent" is a versatile and reliable term for indicating the absence of something in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

non-existent

Hyphenated form of the original word.

inexistent

A synonym with a slightly more formal tone.

unreal

Implies not genuine or authentic.

imaginary

Something that exists only in the imagination.

fictitious

Describes something that is a product of fiction.

absent

Indicates something is not present or available.

missing

Highlights the lack of something that is expected or needed.

lacking

Emphasizes the deficiency of something.

void

Suggests an empty or unfilled space.

null

Indicates a zero value or absence of effect.

FAQs

How can I use "nonexistent" in a sentence?

You can use "nonexistent" to describe something that does not exist or is not real. For example, "His chances of winning the lottery are virtually nonexistent."

What are some alternatives to using "nonexistent"?

Alternatives include "inexistent", "unreal", or "imaginary", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "non-existent" or "nonexistent" correct?

"Nonexistent" is generally preferred and more common. "Non-existent" is also acceptable, but less frequently used.

What's the difference between "nonexistent" and "absent"?

"Nonexistent" means something does not exist at all, while "absent" means something is missing from a place or situation where it might be expected to be.