noughts

Noughts are the plural form of nought, a term used in British English for the numeral zero. The singular nought or naught designates the digit 0, the placeholder in positional numeral systems and the result of subtracting a number from itself. In mathematics and computing, noughts appear as the binary digit 0 and in sequences such as 1010. In everyday language, people may refer to scores or measurements with the word nought, for example, “two noughts to five.”

Etymology and usage notes: Nought and naught are variant forms stemming from Old English elements meaning “not anything.” In modern usage, nought is predominantly British and associated with the number zero, while naught is an older or more general term that appears in certain phrases and in American usage. In technical contexts, zero remains the standard term in most varieties of English.

In culture and language, the phrase noughts and crosses denotes the two symbols used in the game tic-tac-toe: noughts (or circles) and crosses (X). The term is also found in popular culture, notably in the British novel Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman (2001), which has been adapted for television. The title reflects the contrasting symbols and the broader theme of division and equality explored in the work.

Regional distinctions aside, noughts refer to the digit 0 and to the broader concept of zero in mathematics, science, and everyday measurement. In American English, zero is the more common term, while nought remains a recognized British variant.