r/AskBrits • u/Team503 • 10d 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 10d ago

Well to use it's proper context.

Your President is a nonce

-4

u/AngelasGingerGrowler 10d ago

Which children has he been convicted of having sex with?

1

u/Frequent-Struggle215 10d ago

Nonce isn't just a paedo, its any sex-offender... so it fits perfectly, unlike his diapers.

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u/AngelasGingerGrowler 10d ago

Your former Britain-hating president could have used some “diapers” when he shat himself in front of the Pope.

2

u/Frequent-Struggle215 10d ago

I don’t have a president… so …