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Definitions

zero

[zeer-oh] / ˈzɪər oʊ /


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for zero?
In math and more generally, something that has the value of zero can be described as null, as in null set and The value is null.  The word cipher was once used as another name for zero. Sometimes, the term goose egg is used as an informal way to refer to zero, especially in the context of a score, as in I scored a big ol’ goose egg on that round. Zero is commonly used in a general way to mean none or nothing. Synonyms for this sense of the word include nil, naught, nought, and aught. Sometimes the word no can be used to mean the same thing as zero, as in We lowered the price but we had no offers—and I mean zero offers.  More informal synonyms for zero in the sense of nothing include zip, zippo, zilch, nada (the Spanish word for “nothing”), diddly, and diddly-squat. The word zero can also be used as a verb meaning “to reduce to zero.” The verb phrase zero out is more commonly used, as in Zero out these totals.  Sometimes, the word zero is used to refer to a person considered completely insignificant, as in They went from zeroes to heroes. Similar words include nobody and loser, but calling someone (or yourself) any of these names is never a nice thing to say.
Where does zero come from?
The concept of zero is ancient, with recorded use dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. The word zero has been used in English since at least the 16th century. It comes from Italian, from the Medieval Latin word ​​zephirum, from the Arabic sifr, meaning “empty” or “zero.” The word cipher comes from this same Arabic root, which is a translation of the Sanskrit word śūnyā, meaning “empty.”
How do you use zero in a sentence?
Zero can be used as a noun, an adjective, and even a verb. Here are some examples of zero in a sentence:
  • Four minus four is zero. 
  • The temperature is expected to drop below zero.
  • If we don’t play, the chance of us winning is zero.
  • The school had a zero tolerance policy on bullying.
  • Please zero these columns by removing all the values.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But the expected revival is running into problems that will keep same-store sales growth for home-improvement retailers around zero this year for the group.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 18, 2026

Recently, I did my first standup routine in years containing zero fat jokes.

From BBC Aug. 17, 2026

However, so far this year there have been zero such sessions, he notes.

From MarketWatch Aug. 17, 2026

There were seven cases in 2025, and so far zero this year.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 16, 2026

At this point, zero out of the two are complete—and I don’t even have an excuse to fall back on.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

This design appears to be a win on two levels, says Gillingham, the Yale professor: It zeroes out direct use of water while also reducing the total amount of energy required for cooling.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 3, 2026

Users go to AI bots for everything from recipes to life and relationship advice, even forming one-sided platonic or romantic relationships with the ones and zeroes that make up this digital ether behind a screen.

From Salon Jun. 28, 2026

Instead, he zeroes in on their clashing worldviews.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 6, 2026

Coco Gauff dropped a set for the second match in a row before clawing her way into a third consecutive Australian Open quarter-final on Sunday as she zeroes in on a maiden Melbourne title.

From Barron's Jan. 25, 2026

That’s a 7 with 27 zeroes after it, or 7 billion billion billion atoms.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

If you’re not, you’ve got to use money, which is hard to get, whereas you get shares by typing zeros into a spreadsheet.

From Salon Jun. 22, 2026

And these worlds aren’t even real, just ones and zeros merged to form a network of communication that sometimes feels like incoherent gibberish.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 8, 2026

Classical computers process information as ones or zeros in bits.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 23, 2026

“We’ll just keep adding zeros to these dead cap players, and see how high they can go,” Leeds explained.

From MarketWatch Mar. 9, 2026

Yet despite the deep mystery of the infinite zeros, Galileo sensed their power.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

From Washington, D.C., to Rhode Island to Oregon, federal judges nominated by presidents from both parties, including Donald Trump, have zeroed in on what’s called “the presumption of regularity.”

From Salon Jul. 30, 2026

Narayan highlighted Ford’s improved margins, but also zeroed in on Ford’s EV losses.

From MarketWatch Jul. 29, 2026

Yet speculation has zeroed in on the potential noise of the coaster as being a problem for residents of the nearby of Toluca Lake.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 17, 2026

As he zeroed in on BP’s expense ledger, he identified areas that many inside the company, and some on the board, said they saw as important to the corporate culture.

From The Wall Street Journal May 29, 2026

Noah didn’t even acknowledge I’d said anything but zeroed in on Stephanie.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

But public health officials finally appear to be zeroing in on what’s causing it.

From Slate Jul. 17, 2026

Spaeny: The great thing about this show is that it’s zeroing in on everyday impossibilities of life, the things that should be so simple, but drive us all up the wall.

From Los Angeles Times May 27, 2026

HoldCo Asset Management, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.–based activist hedge fund known for engaging in campaigns to improve underperforming banks, is zeroing in on two new targets after its most active year yet.

From Barron's Apr. 16, 2026

The Chinese tech giant is zeroing in on making AI a key engine of growth, continuing to upgrade its Qwen model series and integrating it into its core ecosystem.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 19, 2026

Edna says when she sees me zeroing in above her eyes.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina




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