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
Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
The Garrisons transformed their nondescript yard into a resort-like outdoor living room that expands their living space considerably.
—Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
The nondescript building, which is located in the far corner of the lot off of Forest Lawn Drive, will not be replaced.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 29 Mar. 2025
Could this gruff old man playing mahjong in a nondescript hall be a curious gambler on the last boat up the Mekong, laughing in the face of Edward’s existential crisis?
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Mar. 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 11 Apr. 2025.
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nondescript
adjective
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