zero

[zeer-oh] / ˈzɪər oʊ /

NOUN

nothing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

nil

STRONG

aught blank bottom cipher nada nadir naught nix nobody nonentity nought nullity oblivion scratch shutout void zilch zip

WEAK

insignificancy lowest point ought rock bottom zot

Antonyms

STRONG

VIP somebody

WEAK

anything being something thing

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.

Lawyer Busayapa said creating a safer environment would require society to recognise there is no "perfect victim" and that "sexual violence should be met with genuine zero tolerance".

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

Wendy Sloan was in Amsterdam on Thursday morning and booked an eight-hour flight to New York, fighting zero sleep to be here for Colbert's final hurrah.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

The blockade has slashed Iranian seaborne exports—most of which go to China—from a prewar average of 1.8 million barrels a day to close to zero.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The Angels were unable to tie against Athletics reliever Mark Leiter Jr., who earned the save, despite having runners on the corners and zero outs in the bottom of the 10th inning.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

There is zero chance all the poop has come off with that method.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

zero

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

Vocabulary lists containing zero

English Words Derived from Arabic

Units 2–3

Functions - High School

zero

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing zero

English Words Derived from Arabic

Units 2–3

Functions - High School