Nonword

usgb/nɑnˈwɝd/
noun

A string of letters or sounds that does not constitute a recognized word in the language.

In the study, participants were shown both real words and nonwords to test their reading skills.
Visual representation of "nonword" - A string of letters or sounds that does not constitute a recognized word in the language.

Often appears as...

  • nonword vocabulary
  • nonword generator

Usage tips

Neutral

General

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Visual representation of "nonword"
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Definition Clarity

Understanding that nonwords are not real words helps in recognizing valid vocabulary.

Illustration for Definition Clarity
The term is often used to assess reading skills.
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Linguistic Appeal

Nonwords can reveal much about phonetic patterns and rules of a language.

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Linguists often use nonwords to study language formation.
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Cognitive Testing

Nonwords are commonly used in cognitive psychology to test memory and recognition.

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This is often seen in experiments that distinguish word recognition from nonword processing.
Visual representation of the word "Nonword"

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