nonsense

Nonsense is content that lacks coherent meaning, logical structure, or plausible justification. It may refer to linguistic forms that defy semantic interpretation or propositions that fail to meet standards of evidence and reason.

In linguistics and philosophy, nonsense can be divided into semantic nonsense—content without referents or truth conditions—and syntactic nonsense, where sentences are grammatical but fail to convey meaningful content. Philosophers such as Ludwig Wittgenstein and others discussed how language can be used to create sense or nonsense.

Nonsense has a long literary tradition as a genre. It features playful language, invented words, paradox, and imaginative incongruity. Notable examples include Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky and Edward Lear’s nonsense verse, which emphasize sound and rhythm as well as meaning.

In everyday language, people use "nonsense" to reject an assertion as invalid or untrue, or to describe ideas that appear irrational or absurd. The term can express incredulity or disagreement rather than a formal analysis of language.

Etymology: nonsense is formed from non- plus sense, with earliest uses in Early Modern English reflecting the idea of content that lacks sensible meaning. The sense of the word has broadened to include both linguistic and non-linguistic irrationality.

It is also a topic in psychology and cognitive science, where nonsense syllables have been used to study memory and learning, and in literary criticism as a lens on creativity and language play.