What does "nor" mean?

1. (after 'neither') used to connect two things that are both not true or not happening. 2. (introducing a new negative point) used to add another negative statement to something you just said. 3. (logic gate) a type of logical operation that is only true if all parts are false.

How do you use "nor"?

When 'nor' connects two subjects, the verb usually agrees with the subject closest to it. This use requires you to swap the subject and the helping verb, such as 'nor do I' instead of 'nor I do'.

nor

conj. · n.

US //ˈnɔɹ// UK //nˈɔː// nor

1 after 'neither' (conj.)
B1 Intermediate

used to connect two things that are both not true or not happening.

a function word used to introduce the second or subsequent member of a series of negative alternatives, typically following 'neither'.

Example

Neither the teacher nor the students knew the answer to the question.

Example

The proposed legislation was neither popular with the public nor supported by the majority of the governing committee.

Usage

When 'nor' connects two subjects, the verb usually agrees with the subject closest to it.
- and not
- or
2 introducing a new negative point (conj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

used to add another negative statement to something you just said.

used to introduce a further negative statement, often triggering subject-auxiliary inversion in the following clause.

Example

I don't like spicy food, nor do I enjoy very salty snacks.

Example

The witness did not recall seeing the vehicle, nor could she provide a description of the driver at the scene.

Usage

This use requires you to swap the subject and the helping verb, such as 'nor do I' instead of 'nor I do'.
- and also not

Show 1 more senseShow fewer

3 logic gate (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

a type of logical operation that is only true if all parts are false.

a logical operator or logic gate that produces a positive output only when all its inputs are negative.

Example

The engineer used a NOR gate to design the simple alarm circuit.

Example

In digital electronics, the NOR operation is considered a universal gate because any other boolean function can be implemented using only NOR gates.
- not or
- OR

Etymology 1

From Middle English nauther, a form of nother and cognate with neither, reanalysed in later English as not + or.

Etymology 2

From not + or, a reanalysis of Etymology 1's sense 2 that treats the original as negation + or rather than as a single inherited conjunction.