nonperson
|non-per-son|
🇺🇸
/ˈnɑnˌpɝsən/
🇬🇧
/ˈnɒnˌpɜːsən/
treated as not a person / deprived of recognition
Etymology
'nonperson' originates from English, formed as a compound of the prefix 'non-' and the noun 'person'; the prefix 'non-' derives from Latin 'non' meaning 'not', and 'person' derives from Latin 'persona' meaning 'mask' or 'character'.
'nonperson' is a modern English coinage (20th century) created by combining 'non-' and 'person'; its usage was influenced by earlier political terms such as George Orwell's 'unperson' (from the mid-20th century) and by reports of people being deprived of legal recognition in totalitarian states.
Initially used to describe someone excluded from legal or public recognition (often in political contexts); over time it has also come to be used more generally for anyone regarded as insignificant or socially invisible.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is deprived of legal or social recognition and the rights normally accorded to a person (often by a government or authority).
In that regime many political opponents were treated as nonpersons and had no legal protection.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
a person regarded as insignificant, unimportant, or without influence in a particular social context.
At the elite club, newcomers often felt like nonpersons until they made connections.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 3
a person deliberately omitted from public records, narratives, or recognition (e.g., deliberately erased from photographs or official lists).
After the purge several officials became nonpersons, removed from archives and photos.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/28 04:49