Nobody: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'nobody' when you want to emphasize that there is not a single person involved or present.

• Nobody came to the meeting
• Nobody knows the answer

'No one' is similar to 'nobody' but might be considered slightly more formal. It can be used in formal writing or speech.

• No one understands her
• No one was at the party

'Not a soul' is a more poetic or emphatic way to say that absolutely no one is present. It is often used in storytelling or descriptive writing.

• There was not a soul in sight
• The room was empty; not a soul was there

'None' can refer to not any people, things, or amount. It is often used after a subject that indicates a group or a set.

• None of the students passed the exam
• None left any tips

Use when referring to a person without significance or influence. This term can carry a negative connotation because it minimizes a person's value.

• 'He's just a nobody in the corporate world
• ' 'She felt like a nobody in the big city
• '

Use when describing someone who is considered to lack any distinctive qualities or not be important. This term is derogatory and reflects a dismissive attitude.

• 'In the world of politics, he's a nonentity
• ' 'She was treated as a nonentity by her colleagues
• '

Use when specifically wanting to emphasize someone's lack of importance or relevance. This term is inherently negative and diminishes the person's importance.

• 'To them, he was just an insignificant person
• ' 'Being treated like an insignificant person hurt her feelings
• '

Use when distinguishing between ordinary people and those of higher social rank, such as royalty or nobility. This term is neutral and often used in historical or formal contexts.

• 'The prince married a commoner
• ' 'Commoners were not allowed in the royal court
• '