# Nancy

/ˈnænsi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nancy
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a common name for a woman.

For teachers: a female given name, originally a diminutive of Ann or Anne.

- Nancy invited all her friends to her birthday party last Saturday.
- Nancy was a remarkably popular name in the mid-twentieth century, though its frequency has declined in recent decades according to birth records.

### 2. city in France

noun · CEFR B2

a city in the north-east of France.

For teachers: a city in the Grand Est region of north-eastern France, known for its late Baroque architecture.

- We took the train from Paris to Nancy to see the famous square.
- The historic centre of Nancy is a UNESCO World Heritage site, featuring some of the most refined examples of eighteenth-century urban planning in Europe.

### 3. offensive term for a man

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar · British English

a very rude and insulting word for a man who acts in a way people think is feminine.

For teachers: a derogatory and offensive slang term for an effeminate man, often used as a homophobic slur.

- The boys at the old school used to call him a nancy because he liked dancing.
- The protagonist in the novel struggled against the narrow-minded bullies who used terms like 'nancy' to mock any boy with an interest in the arts.

Usage: Usually used as a disparaging label or an insult.

Teaching tip: This term is highly offensive and considered a slur in modern English; learners should recognize it in older literature but never use it themselves.

## Examples

- He was bullied and called a nancy by the older boys.
- The character in the play struggles against the narrow-minded neighbors who dismiss him as a nancy for his interest in poetry.
- The author explores how such reductive labels as nancy were weaponized in mid-century social circles to enforce rigid standards of gender performance and punish any perceived deviation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.