Discover the true meaning of “ nonce ” in 2025 with expert examples, formal and casual alternatives, usage rules, and the best synonyms across tech, language, and communication. Nonce is a slang term used online and offline in the UK, including in the mainstream media, to refer to a person convicted of sexual offenses against children . It carries extreme stigma and persons considered nonces are often targeted for violence, especially in prisons. In its simplest definition, this is a British slang term that means "pedophile." The Cambridge Dictionary, spelling it " nonce ," defines it as "a person who commits a crime involving sex ... According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “ nonce ” is a slang term used in the U.K. to describe someone who is accused of a sex crime. It is primarily used to describe someone involved in a crime...
