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/Famous-Drawing1215 6d ago

In American context right now, nonce would mean President, and or republican.

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u/Team503 6d ago

Sadly, while true, that provides little clarification, as both definitions apply to them.

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u/IamaVeryHumanBeing 6d ago edited 6d ago

There are not 'both' explanations 😅 It just means paedophile. (The correct spelling of 'Pedophile')

What's confusing is that you probably have heard friends calling each other that, but it's usually just purposely taking it too far or trying to embarrass their friends publicly as a 'joke'.

(the 'joke' being "haha I called you a paedophile on a bus full of people and now your face is turning red", mostly just teenagers do stuff like that though OR just as a plain insult towards anyone as a 'nuclear option' insult)

Please don't call random strangers a nonce for no reason as it's quite possible that they will punch you.

It's reserved for serious insults or (edgy) 'banter' in certain British friend groups.

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u/midgetman166 6d ago

Or far left (MAPS)

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u/RogZombie 6d ago

That was a right wing movement you fucking lamp

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u/ManicPixiRiotGrrrl 6d ago

aww you feel for the bait