nix

1 of 4

verb

ˈniks 

nixed; nixing; nixes

transitive verb

US, informal

: to refuse to accept or allow (something) : veto, reject

The court nixed the merger.

Many of Paris's newest hangouts are nixing gilded French style in favor of white walls, psychedelia and menus of tuna carpaccio and Parmesan-arugula salad.

—Jane Sigal

Prince has cited artistic factors for nixing the reunion.

—Chris Willman

nix

2 of 4

adverb

: no

—used to express disagreement or the withholding of permission

—often used with on

they said nix on our plan

nix

3 of 4

noun (1)

: nothing

There's a whole day's work for nix.

nix

4 of 4

noun (2)

: a water sprite of Germanic folklore

Synonyms

Verb

• decline
• deny
• disallow
• disapprove
• negative
• refuse
• reject
• reprobate
• withhold

Examples of nix in a Sentence

Verb

our supervisor nixed my request to work from home, if only on a trial basis

movie audiences have effectively nixed the idea of the reviving the old-fashioned western by emphatically ignoring this latest effort

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Despite The Washington Post’s editorial board having drafted an endorsement of Vice President Harris, the newspaper did not formally endorse a candidate in the White House contest following Bezos’s decision to nix endorsements at the paper. —Filip Timotija, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024

Bezos nixed the Post plans to endorse a presidential candidate this year, as the editorial board was preparing to back Kamala Harris. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2024

Noun

Health Care The Big Story Nursing homes look to Trump to nix staffing rule Republicans are expected to undo the Biden administration’s contentious nursing home staffing rule, to the relief of the nursing home industry. —Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024

Maryland could lose federal jobs as well if President Trump actually fulfills his pledge to cut the bureaucracy (and, on a more immediate level, nixes plans to relocate the FBI headquarters to Prince George’s County). —Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 14 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1), Verb, and Adverb

German nichts nothing

Noun (2)

German, from Old High German nihhus; akin to Old English nicor water monster and perhaps to Greek nizein to wash

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1903, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1862, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1789, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1833, in the meaning defined above