# NEC

/ˈnɛk/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nec
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a Latin word meaning 'and' that you might see in very old books or formal legal papers. It is not used in normal conversation today.

For teachers: the Latin conjunction for 'and'. Archaic in general usage; occasionally appears in historical legal citations or formal academic contexts to link coordinate clauses.

## Examples

- The old document listed the names as Smith nec Jones.
- In certain archaic legal texts, the term nec appears as a negative conjunction to connect two prohibited actions.
- While modern English has entirely supplanted such Latinisms, the scholar noted the use of nec within the manuscript as evidence of the author's classical education.

## Usage notes

- Archaic; primarily found in Latin phrases or historical legal documents rather than modern prose.

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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.