nil-

prefix

Zero.

“un- (“1”) + bi- (“2”) + nil- (“0”) + -ium (element suffix) → unbinilium (“element 120”)”

OriginLatin nil →
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Meanings

prefix
  1. Zero.
  2. chemistryUsed for the digit zero to form systematic element names of elements whose existence has been predicted, and which have not yet been given a trivial name.

    un- (“1”) + bi- (“2”) + nil- (“0”) + -ium (element suffix) → unbinilium (“element 120”)

Origin

  1. Latinnil“nothing”
  2. Englishnil-

From Latin nil (“nothing”), shortened form of nihil.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

nil-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nil-

MLA

“nil-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nil-. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nil-,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nil-.

Source: nil- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.