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.

The point of plug-in solar isn’t to zero out a home’s energy consumption—that likely requires a big, professionally installed rig costing tens of thousands of dollars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

Then she completed the wholesale shakeup that saw yet another TV vet, 60 Minutes executive producer Tanya Simon, replaced with Nick Bilton, a frequently criticized tech writer with zero experience in broadcast news.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

“We now project around $200 billion of net equity supply for 2026 vs. zero last year,” said a team of strategists led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou in a note to clients on Thursday.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

The average yield, or spread, that investors demand to hold the debt of tech-sector issuers, compared to their investment-grade peers, has risen from effectively zero this time last year to around 35 basis points.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

"Oh. I thought the name rang a bell. Patients zero, aren't they?"

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

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