Nuance
/ˈnuːɑːns/
nounC1
Definition
Nuance means a very small or slight difference in meaning, feeling, or appearance. It is often used when something is not clear or simple but has many small details that change how we understand it. People use nuance to talk about delicate or careful distinctions in language, art, or behavior.
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See It in Action
A small or subtle difference in meaning or expression
- •The nuance in her voice showed she was not happy.
- •Understanding the nuances of a language takes time.
- •The writer’s use of nuance made the story more interesting.
A slight variation in color, tone, or feeling
- •The artist used many nuances of green in the painting.
- •There is a nuance of sadness beneath his smile.
- •The chef’s recipe has nuances of spices that are hard to describe.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "nuance" like "difference," but a very tiny, delicate difference you might only notice if you look carefully
- ✓Picture a painting with many shades of blue—each shade is a nuance that changes how the picture feels
- ✓It's the feeling when you understand a joke that is not obvious, because of small clues or tone
- ✓Sounds like "new-ANCE" → imagine a new dance with very small, gentle moves that change the whole style
- ✓Remember how actors change their voice just a little to show different feelings—that small change is a nuance
- ✓NOT like "big difference" (which is easy to see), nuance is a small, hidden difference you must pay attention to
- ✓NOT like "simple" or "clear"—nuance means something is complex and has many small parts to understand
- ✓NOT like "noise" or "confusion"—nuance is a meaningful subtlety, not just unclear or messy
Try Other Words
- •Shade: a slight difference in color or meaning (Use when talking about small color differences or small changes in meaning)
- •Subtlety: a small, hard-to-see difference (Use when emphasizing how hard it is to notice the difference)
- •Hint: a small sign or suggestion (Use when the nuance is like a small clue or indirect meaning)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; the word is borrowed whole)
- •Etymology: From French "nuance," meaning "shade" or "tint," originally from Latin "nubes" meaning "cloud"
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 18th century to describe small differences in color or meaning
- •Modern usage: Used broadly to describe subtle differences in language, feelings, art, and behavior
- •Key insight: Nuance is about small, delicate differences that change understanding or feeling in a quiet way
Reflect & Connect
•How can noticing nuances in language help you speak or understand better?
•Can you think of a time when a small nuance changed how you felt about a person or situation?
Fill in the blanks
1.When speaking a foreign language, understanding the nuance of words helps avoid ___ misunderstandings.
2.The actor showed great skill by adding nuance to his ___, changing the meaning with small voice changes.
3.Unlike a big change, a nuance is a ___ difference that might be easy to miss.
4.Sometimes a phrase has a nuance that means more than the simple ___ of the words.
5.The painting’s beauty comes from the many nuances of color and ___.
6.Writers often use nuance to create ___ feelings rather than clear, direct messages.
7.If you ignore the nuance in someone's tone, you might ___ their true feelings.