nondescript

adjective

non·​de·​script ˌnän-di-ˈskript 

1

: belonging or appearing to belong to no particular class or kind : not easily described

… a nondescript mixture of styles in the worst possible taste.

—George Bernard Shaw

2

: lacking distinctive or interesting qualities : dull, drab

Their performance was disappointingly nondescript.

nondescript noun

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How Nondescript Was Formed

It is relatively easy to describe the origins of nondescript (and there's a hint in the first part of this sentence). Nondescript was formed by combining the prefix non- (meaning "not") with descriptus,the past participle of the Latin verb describere, meaning "to describe." It is no surprise, then, that when the word was adopted in the late 17th century by English speakers, it was typically applied to something (such as a genus or species) that had not yet been described. Other descriptive descendants of describere in English include describe, description, and descriptive itself, as well as the rare philosophical term descriptum ("something that is described").

Synonyms of nondescript

• boring
• neutral
• featureless
• characterless
• beige
• faceless
• noncommittal
• dull

Examples of nondescript in a Sentence

I work in one of the nondescript office buildings downtown.

Their performance was disappointingly nondescript.

Recent Examples on the Web

The other is on the second floor of a nondescript building on the campus of Wichita State University. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026

Though the nondescript entrance is easy to miss, keep your eyes peeled for Gallery 1. — Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026

One intrepid reporter journeys into the nondescript building where Hollywood’s biggest stars can be digitally cloned. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026

On a nondescript street in Hackensack, New Jersey, inside a low-slung, former industrial complex, there’s a place that will—literally—change your perspective on perfume. — April Long, Allure, 24 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

non- + Latin descriptus, past participle of describere to describe

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nondescript

• eucalypt
• manuscript
• superscript
• chipped
• clipped
• crypt
• dipped
• dripped
• flipped
• gripped
• hipped
• lipped

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Kids Definition

nondescript

adjective

non·​de·​script ˌnän-di-ˈskript 

: belonging or appearing to belong to no particular class or kind : not easily described

nondescript noun