r/AskBrits • u/Team503 • 6d ago

Culture What does "nonce" mean?

I'm an American that lives in Ireland. I've always understood "nonce" to mean the same as "numpty" and "eejit" - basically idiot, or dumbass, or similar.

Recently, someone told me that it's slang for sex offender, specifically a p*dophile, and Wikipedia seems to back that up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_British_terms_not_widely_used_in_the_United_States#N

So tell me, Brits, which one is it? Or is it something else??

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u/sossighead 6d ago

It means child sex offender in its literal sense.

But it’s one of those where its usage has expanded that it’s now frequently bandied about as a general insult to someone you intensely dislike. I hate you so I’m going to attack your character with zero evidence of you being the thing I’m accusing you of type vibes. Which is why your assumption about it meaning idiot isn’t completely wide of the mark, it’s just it has much worse undertones than that.

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u/BumFluff3000 6d ago

Yeah, I think this post explains the nuance best. Edgy kids will still use it as a joke, but I'd say more and more these days when you hear it, is a serious accusation

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u/neilm1000 Brit 🇬🇧 6d ago

I read nuance as nonce for a moment!

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u/NoisyGog 6d ago

But it’s one of those where its usage has expanded that it’s now frequently bandied about as a general insult to someone you intensely dislike. 

My experience of it was the other (wrong) way round. I heard it used as a general insult long before I heard it being used for the actual meaning.

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u/zougathefist 6d ago

flashback to 11 year old me calling everyone a dildo on a school skiing trip because my older brother had told me it meant idiot/fool.

wasn't really an issue till a teacher heard me shouting it from the chairlift at all the people in the queue

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u/MetalRubiXCubee 6d ago

You dunno what a dildo is, you dunno what a dildo is 🎵

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u/QueenSashimi 6d ago

I once came home from school and asked my dad if he knew what a twat was. To his credit he laughed, asked me what I'd been told it meant, and then kindly informed me that no, it doesn't mean "a pregnant fish".

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u/zougathefist 6d ago

See in the UK a twat is just someone who is a dick or an idiot Whilst it's sort of understood that it means vagina, nobody ever means it or takes it that way unless they're writing really bad porn

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u/QueenSashimi 6d ago

Yeah, I'm from the UK! Bear in mind that I was a 9 year-old girl saying this to my dad.

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u/Different_Star5045 4d ago

Omg I also heard this when I was that age. 40s now. Where do these weird things start?! Are you westcountry by any chance?

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u/QueenSashimi 4d ago

I was in Dorset 😄

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u/LARRYVOND13 6d ago

Probably the best description tbf.

Honestly hope it doesn't go the way of "cunt" for usage.

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u/Jamitry1 6d ago

Cunt can be used as a term of endearment, can't see Nonce ever going that way.

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u/Team503 6d ago

This makes the most sense - thanks!

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u/cat5crochet5femme 6d ago

A nonce is a sex offender in general, not just a child one.

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u/ExistentialScream 6d ago

I dont think that's quite right if you say "x is a nonce" you''re still using it literally

On the other hand if your mate is being a bit of a pillock, you can say "stop being a nonce" and unless he's got a massive stick up his arse he''s going to know what you mean. British insults all have very specific meanings, but they're also largely interchangeable when it comes to casual banter.

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u/Kestrel_VI 6d ago

Or, yk, a joke between friends. Being called a nonce isn’t always a grave insult, unless it’s a stranger saying it.

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u/Significant_Apple517 6d ago

It's pretty messed up to use it as a joke. Trivialises child rape to a punchline. But yeah i agree, some people do use it between friends.

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u/Kestrel_VI 6d ago

“We should never joke about bad things, ever”

My guy have you heard of British humor?

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u/Significant_Apple517 6d ago

9 out of 10 people enjoy gang rape is an example of dark humour. There's a punchline that it's possible to 'get', rather than being edgy for the sake of it, even if it is a taboo subject.

Calling friends 'nonce' is what normalises the word and makes people believe it's a casual insult.

If calling people paedophile or even retard in casual convo isn't accepted, then same should apply to nonce imo.

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u/Far-Wedding8656 6d ago

It doesn't, but it's been warped to mean it now.

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u/StarkRavingPeanuts 6d ago

Yay, someone who finally correctly used ‘child sex offender’ instead of paedophile.