nuisance
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
something or someone that is annoying or causes a small problem.
a person, thing, or circumstance causing inconvenience or annoyance. Often used with 'a' when referring to a specific instance.
Simple“It is a real nuisance when the bus is late and I miss my train.”
In context“The constant construction noise next door has become a significant nuisance for the residents who work from home during the day.”
PitfallIt is a nuisance for me to wait. It is a nuisance to have to wait.While 'nuisance' describes the situation, we usually use it to describe the action itself rather than the effect on a person's feelings.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
something that is harmful or offensive to the community and can be stopped by the law.
an unlawful interference with a person's use or enjoyment of land, or of a right common to the general public.
Simple“The factory was sued for being a public nuisance because of the bad smell.”
In context“The court issued an injunction against the nightclub, ruling that the excessive late-night bass levels constituted a private nuisance to the neighbouring property owners.”
UsageOften categorised as either 'public nuisance' or 'private nuisance' in legal contexts.
Synonyms
“Ranchers still largely view the animals as a nuisance that threatens their already slim profit margins.”
“We do everything together." Asked what his family think of his new lease of life, he laughed and said: "They think I'm a nuisance.”
From Middle English noysaunce, from Anglo-Norman nusaunce, nussance and Old French nuisance, from nuisir (“to harm”), from Latin nocēre. Doublet of nocence and nocency.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.