noun
nil
nihl
noun
1
Nothing at all; zero.
"Her chances of success were nil."
"The risk of infection is close to nil with proper hygiene."
2
A score of zero, especially in British sporting results.
"The match finished two-nil to the home team."
How to Use Nil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNothing, zero — used both generally and as a sports score.
UK vs US
Common in British English for scores ("three-nil"); American English usually says "zero" or "nothing" instead.
Common pairings
nil by mouth
win two-nil
chances are nil
Word Forms
nils plural
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Her chances of success were _____.
Etymology
From Latin nīl, itself a shortening of nihil ("nothing") — the same root that gives us nihilism.