What is a nonce word?

• A. A nonce word is a word borrowed from another language and never changes its form.
• B. A nonce word is a word created for a single occasion; some become established, others fade; it demonstrates creativity and potential for future lexical entry.
• C. A nonce word is a fixed compound formed by combining two existing words.
• D. A nonce word is an obsolete term no longer used.

Answer: (B)

A nonce word is a word created for a single occasion to fit a particular moment, purpose, or stylistic effect in language. It arises from creativity in use and isn’t borrowed from another language with a fixed form, nor is it a built-up compound meant as a standard unit from the start. Whether it sticks depends on how widely it’s adopted; many nonce words vanish, but some catch on and become established parts of the vocabulary. For example, a term like “selfie” emerged to describe a specific kind of self-portrait and, through repeated use, became a regular part of everyday language. This distinguishes it from a loanword (which comes from another language), a fixed compound (which is already a stable unit), or an obsolete term (which has fallen out of use).