# nobody

/ˈnoʊˌbɑˌdi/ (US) · /nˈəʊbɒdˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nobody
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. no person

pronoun · CEFR A1

not any person; no one.

For teachers: not any person; the logical negation of somebody. Functions as a singular indefinite pronoun.

- I knocked on the door, but nobody answered.
- Despite the urgent nature of the announcement, nobody in the crowded hall seemed to pay the slightest bit of attention.

Usage: Always takes a singular verb form.

### 2. unimportant person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who is not famous, powerful, or important.

For teachers: a person of no importance, influence, or social standing. Often used in a dismissive or derogatory manner.

- Before she became a famous singer, she was just a nobody from a small town.
- The protagonist begins the novel as a complete nobody, working a dead-end job before a chance encounter changes his social trajectory forever.

Teaching tip: This is the opposite of using 'somebody' to mean an important person (e.g., 'He thinks he's somebody').

## Examples

- He was just a nobody before he won the lottery.
- In a city full of celebrities, it is easy to feel like a nobody if you do not have a famous name.
- The protagonist begins the novel as a complete nobody, working a menial job in a small town, before a series of unlikely events thrusts him into the national spotlight.

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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.