Nonce

Ret's Word of the Day: Nonce
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Nonce

Meaning: (British prison slang, strongly derogatory) A sex offender, especially one who commits offences against children; a child molester ↔ (argot carcéral britannique, très péjoratif) délinquant sexuel, en particulier agresseur d'enfants.

/nɒns/
[ NONSS ]
Usage note: This is an extremely offensive, derogatory term primarily used in British prison slang and street language. It carries intense social stigma and is considered hate speech in many contexts. Avoid using it casually; it can provoke strong reactions. The older meaning ("for the nonce" ↔ for the time being) is unrelated and neutral.
Example: "That'll work for the nonce, but we'll need a better plan for the long term."

Dialogue

  • Inmate 1: “Stay away from that new guy on the wing.”
  • Inmate 2: “Why? What’s his deal?”
  • Inmate 1: “He’s a nonce. Proper one. They’ve got him on the vulnerable prisoners unit for a reason.”
  • Inmate 2: “Right. Cheers for the heads-up.”

Etymology

Origin uncertain, attested in British prison slang from the 1970s. Likely from earlier dialectal "nonse" or "nonce" meaning a worthless or stupid person (possibly linked to "nance" / "nancy" for effeminate man), or a backronym from "Not On Normal Communal Exercise" (segregation notation for sex offenders in prison). Entered widespread use in the late 20th century as specific slang for child sex offenders.

Audience

When to use: Almost never in polite, professional, or public conversation. Restricted to informal British contexts (especially prison, crime drama, or certain street slang). It is highly inflammatory and can be libelous or incite hatred when misapplied. Use only when discussing UK prison culture, true crime, or British slang with extreme caution and clear context. Not suitable for general English teaching or casual use.

Video

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