nondescript
adjective
George Bernard Shaw
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How Nondescript Was Formed
It is relatively easy to describe the origins of nondescript (and there's a hint in the first part of this sentence). Nondescript was formed by combining the prefix non- (meaning "not") with descriptus,the past participle of the Latin verb describere, meaning "to describe." It is no surprise, then, that when the word was adopted in the late 17th century by English speakers, it was typically applied to something (such as a genus or species) that had not yet been described. Other descriptive descendants of describere in English include describe, description, and descriptive itself, as well as the rare philosophical term descriptum ("something that is described").
Examples of nondescript in a Sentence
Nia Bowers, USA Today, 24 May 2025
With many human rights under threat with our current administration—including LGBTQ+ rights and resources for trans youth—a more nondescript and label-free uniform can act as a form of protection, or even a form of rebellion.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 May 2025
There’s a 5,200-square-foot fitness center, a nondescript screening room, and an oversize vending machine where a person paying close to $4,000 a month for a studio can rent a Dyson or pick up a late-night pint of Ben and Jerry’s.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 10 Apr. 2025
His slow, steady ascent in Indiana after two nondescript seasons in Boston has caught almost everyone unawares.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nondescript
Cite this Entry
“Nondescript.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nondescript. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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nondescript
adjective
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