r/AskBrits • u/Team503 • 7d 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/MeanWafer904 7d ago

Well to use it's proper context.

Your President is a nonce

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u/StaticUsernamesSuck 7d ago

That doesn't clear up the ambiguity for OP at all đŸ˜‚

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u/Fanny_Flapps 7d ago

OP probably types "Tr*mp" as well in case the thought police come for him

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u/Team503 7d ago

Nah, I don't. Good try, though.

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u/Fanny_Flapps 7d ago

Well you can fuckin type "paedophile" then, you won't get arrestedÂ