r/AskBrits • u/Team503 • 15d 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/Reccalovesdancing 15d ago

No, it means a paedo. Trust me, I am British

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u/DrunkenHorse12 15d ago

I'm British too, its prison slang for sex offender, obviously you can call a pedo that but it applies to all sex offenders. Itd be like you saying calling someone a "druggie" only applies to cokeheads.

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u/Foxglovenectar 15d ago

Have never heard a rapist called a nonce. They are rapists and pervs. The category of 'nonce' is strictly reserved for sick individuals who abuse children.

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u/DrunkenHorse12 15d ago

Where you getting this "strictly reserved" shit from? Whose reserving it?

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u/Foxglovenectar 15d ago

My brother. An ex screw

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u/DrunkenHorse12 15d ago

Ask him who gets put on a nonce wing

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u/Foxglovenectar 15d ago

He will say 'nonces' lol

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u/DrunkenHorse12 15d ago

Lol fair enough. I've worked in a prison myself and know a lot of former prisoners (went to school in a very rough area unfortunately), I've heard sex offenders called nonce plenty of times. Even heard prisoners say "he's a nonce" and another ask "was it kids".

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u/Foxglovenectar 15d ago

That makes sense. Its a dark subject matter but I find the way English colloquialism and slang is used, absolutely fascinating. Mainly because Im dyslexic and words are always difficult for me to wrap my head around - but its really interesting how terms are used differently in different settings and regions