nonexistent

adjective

non·​ex·​is·​tent ˌnän-ig-ˈzi-stənt How to pronounce nonexistent (audio)
: not in actual or present occurrence : not existing
… historical accounts of the first Thanksgiving are almost nonexistentJasper White
Water was often a luxury, bathrooms were nonexistent, the food was often suspect.Noel Vietmeyer
Although brain size and organization became basically modern at least 100,000 years ago, with the robust Neanderthals, their advances in tool-making were slight, their self-expression through art virtually nonexistent.John Noble Wilford

Examples of nonexistent in a Sentence

our perennially nonexistent computer tech is, once again, not here today
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As mentioned above, Iowa’s first-half efficiency from 3-point range was nonexistent in the second half, and Maryland appeared more active staying on its assignments and using its hands to make four steals. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2025 Conventional menu distinctions such as starter, main course and dessert are nonexistent. Melinda Newman, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025 Dialogue is nearly nonexistent, but the film thrums with a kinetic musical rhythm. Barry Levitt, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025 The 2020–2021 flu season was essentially nonexistent, with ILI activity staying well below baseline for the entire season. Ars Technica, 4 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for nonexistent 

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonexistent was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near nonexistent

Cite this Entry

“Nonexistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonexistent. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on nonexistent

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