noun

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "noun" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to a word that names a person, place, thing, quality, or action. For example, "The word 'table' is a noun."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"That the sun moves round the Earth was once a delusion, and is still an illusion" (Fowler) DeMille, Cecil B (1881-1959) Hollywood producer and director; the B stood for Blount Democrat, Democratic In American politics, Democrat is a noun, Democratic an adjective: Hillary Clinton is a Democrat, and a member of the Democratic party.

The Guardian

This is one of our most frequent errors immigrate to arrive in a country; emigrate to leave one Hence immigrant, immigration, emigrant, emigration Immigration and Nationality Directorate may be called "the immigration service" immune to not immune from impact a noun, not a verb: say "affected" rather than the awful jargon phrase "impacted on".

The Guardian

bitcoin, noun: a digital currency in which transactions can be performed without the need for a central bank.

The Guardian - Books

We've seen this figure increase significantly, along with use of the related verb "to showroom" and the noun "showroomer".

The Guardian - Books

olinguito, noun: a small furry mammal found in mountain forests in Colombia and Ecuador, the smallest member of the raccoon family.

The Guardian - Books

showrooming, noun: the practice of visiting a shop or shops in order to examine a product before buying it online at a lower price.

The Guardian - Books

schmeat, noun, informal: a form of meat produced synthetically from biological tissue.

The Guardian - Books

Smeuse is an English dialect noun for "the gap in the base of a hedge made by the regular passage of a small animal"; now I know the word smeuse, I notice these signs of creaturely commute more often.

The Guardian - Books

Their collective noun is a "bloom" or a "swarm".

The Guardian

bedroom tax, noun, informal: (in the UK) a reduction in the amount of housing benefit paid to a claimant if the property they are renting is judged to have more bedrooms than is necessary for the number of the people in the household, according to criteria set down by the government.

The Guardian - Books

So this post is a celebration of the best of German – and an appeal for your favourite compound noun.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "noun" accurately in linguistic discussions, differentiating it from other parts of speech like verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to maintain clarity and precision in your analysis.

Common error

Avoid using adjectives in place of nouns; for example, instead of saying "the red", say "the red car" to use "car" as the noun.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of the word "noun" is to identify a category of words that represent people, places, things, or ideas. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, functioning as a key term in grammatical discussions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Books

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "noun" is a fundamental element of grammar, correctly used to identify words representing people, places, things, or ideas. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its widespread and accurate application across various contexts, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in news, books, and academic texts. While the term maintains a neutral register, its precise definition is crucial for clear communication and grammatical understanding. As evidenced by the frequency of examples, "noun" is a very common expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantive

Focuses on the word's function as a significant element of a sentence.

name

Highlights the word's role in identifying something.

nameword

Emphasizes that the word gives a name to something.

naming word

Stresses the action of giving a name.

word

Uses a more general term for a part of speech.

term

Indicates a specific word used in a particular context.

expression

Highlights that the word is a form of communication.

designation

Focuses on the act of assigning a name or label.

appellation

Refers to a formal name or title.

identifier

Highlights the word's function as a means of recognition.

FAQs

How is a "noun" typically used in a sentence?

A "noun" typically functions as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. For example, in the sentence "The dog barked", "dog" is the subject.

What can I say instead of "noun"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "substantive", "name", or "nameword".

Which is correct, "noun" or "noun phrase"?

"Noun" refers to a single word, while "noun phrase" refers to a group of words that functions as a noun. The choice depends on whether you're discussing a single word or a group of words.

What's the difference between "noun" and "pronoun"?

A "noun" is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea, while a "pronoun" is a word that replaces a noun to avoid repetition. For example, "John" is a noun, and "he" is a pronoun that can replace "John".