nonexistence

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

Also spelled non-existence

US /ˌnɑnɪɡˈzɪstəns/ UK /ˌnɒnɪɡˈzɪstəns/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the state of not existing

The promised refund proved to be a nonexistence.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the state of not existing absencenonbeingnullitynothingness nonentity void

Opposites

existence being presence

Word family

Related forms nonexistent existence exist

Etymology

From non- ('not') + existence, from Latin exsistere ('to stand forth, come into being'), from ex- ('out') + sistere ('to stand').

non Latin exsistere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# nonexistence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌnɑnɪɡˈzɪstəns/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌnɒnɪɡˈzɪstəns/

## Meanings
1. the state of not existing

## Examples
- The promised refund proved to be a nonexistence.

## Synonyms
- absence
- nonbeing
- nullity
- nothingness
- nonentity
- void

## Antonyms
- existence
- being
- presence

## Related Forms
- nonexistent
- existence
- exist

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: non
- Root: exsistere

## Etymology
From non- ('not') + existence, from Latin exsistere ('to stand forth, come into being'), from ex- ('out') + sistere ('to stand').

## AI Etymology
Nonexistence comes from non- ('not') + existence, from Latin exsistere ('to stand forth, come into being'), from ex- ('out') + sistere ('to stand'). The etymological trail includes Latin non, Latin exsistere. The same word family includes nonexistent, existence, exist. Its current noun use means "the state of not existing".

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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