nous

noun

Synonyms of nousnext
1
ˈnüs How to pronounce nous (audio)
also
ˈnau̇s How to pronounce nous (audio) : mind, reason: such as
a
: an intelligent purposive principle of the world
b
: the divine reason regarded in Neoplatonism as the first emanation of God
2
ˈnau̇s How to pronounce nous (audio) chiefly British : common sense, alertness

Synonyms of nous

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Examples of nous in a Sentence

an Oxford don who was long on erudition but a little short on everyday nous
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fact that celebrity landed upon him, plucking him from the obscurity of his mission to represent the burgeoning discourse on the disease, says more about the world that orbited him than his actions on the island or his own political nous. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 He was recruited at great cost to win this World Cup, and because of his tactical nous in knockout football. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026 The assessment contradicts Western conventional wisdom that Moscow has approached the conflict more as a meat grinder than with strategic nous. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025 Alonso's coaching career has been turbocharged by his impressive tactical nous, which was the driving factor in the success of a Bayer Leverkusen side substantially less well-resourced than its rivals. — Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for nous

Word History

Etymology

Greek noos, nous mind

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nous was in 1678

Rhymes for nous

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Browse Nearby Words

nouriture
nous
nous avons changé tout cela
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Cite this Entry

“Nous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nous. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nous

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nous

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