Standard Lemma guide

nondescript

adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈnɒndɪskɹɪpt/
  • US: /nɑndəˈskɹɪpt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: N AA1 N D IH0 S K R IH1 P T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Not described (in the academic literature).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: undescribed, unidentified

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Without distinguishing qualities or characteristics.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He drove a nondescript silver sedan.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: undescript, unexceptional, plain

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A species or other type of creature that has not been previously described or identified.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An undistinguished, unexceptional person or thing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

An unmarked police car.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • women dressed in nondescript clothes
  • a nondescript novel

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: characterless

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

a person is not easily classified and not very interesting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul

History

Etymology

From non- + descript (from Latin dēscrīptus, past participle of dēscrībō).

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: tunnistamaton — biology: not described
  • Bulgarian: неопределен (neopredelen) — without distinguishing qualities
  • Finnish: mitäänsanomaton — without distinguishing qualities
  • French: banal — without distinguishing qualities
  • French: quelconque — without distinguishing qualities
  • Spanish: no descripto — without distinguishing qualities
  • Spanish: poco descrito — without distinguishing qualities
  • Spanish: cualquiera — without distinguishing qualities
  • Spanish: banal — without distinguishing qualities
  • Spanish: anodino — without distinguishing qualities
  • Spanish: insulso — without distinguishing qualities
  • Spanish: soso — without distinguishing qualities
  • Spanish: indescriptible — without distinguishing qualities