nude

1 of 2

adjective

ˈnüd How to pronounce nude (audio)
ˈnyüd
nuder; nudest
1
: lacking something essential especially to legal validity
a nude contract
2
a
: devoid of a natural or conventional covering
especially : not covered by clothing or a drape
b(1)
: having a color that matches the wearer's skin tones
nude pantyhose
nude lipstick
(2)
: giving the appearance of nudity
a nude dress
c
: featuring nudes
a nude movie
d
: frequented by naked people
a nude beach
nude adverb
nudely adverb
nudeness noun
nudity
ˈnü-də-tē How to pronounce nude (audio)
ˈnyü-
noun

nude

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a representation of a nude human figure
b
: a nude person
2
: the condition of being nude
in the nude
Choose the Right Synonym for nude

bare, naked, nude, bald, barren mean deprived of naturally or conventionally appropriate covering.

bare implies the removal of what is additional, superfluous, ornamental, or dispensable.

an apartment with bare walls

naked suggests absence of protective or ornamental covering but may imply a state of nature, of destitution, or of defenselessness.

poor half-naked children

nude applies especially to the unclothed human figure.

a nude model posing for art students

bald implies actual or seeming absence of natural covering and may suggest a conspicuous bareness.

a bald mountain peak

barren often suggests aridity or impoverishment or sterility.

barren plains

Examples of nude in a Sentence

Adjective The artists sketched the nude model. Picasso's paintings of nude art models. Noun the nudes of Greek sculpture the artist painted some models in the nude
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
While not explicitly gay, one particularly faggy (complimentary) element of the project for me was an image of a crowd marveling in awe at the Bronzi di Riace — two bronze statues of buff, bearded, and of course, nude, Greek soldiers. Ludwig Hurtado, Them., 29 Sep. 2025 The pajama set is crafted from deep red silk and printed with abstract nude figures — a motif inspired by bodies in motion and drifting smoke, as well as the photography of Arno Nobles. Hanna McNeila, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
In a July 29 post to the social media platform, Minniear included snaps of himself and some picturesque locations, as well as a shot of Goulding laying nude in bed with her arm, side and thigh visible but face mostly obstructed. Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025 The woman had been stabbed multiple times and left nude. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nude

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin nudus naked — more at naked

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of nude was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nude. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

nude

1 of 2 adjective
nuder; nudest
: having no clothes on
nudeness noun

nude

2 of 2 noun
1
: a nude human figure especially as shown in art
2
: the condition of being nude
in the nude

More from Merriam-Webster on nude

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