Crossword answer · 9 letters
Nonanswer definition and meaning
non-AN-sur · noun
What does Nonanswer mean?
A nonanswer is a response that does not meaningfully address the question. It may contain plenty of words while leaving the requested information missing.
What does NONANSWER mean in a crossword?
A clue about an evasive reply can point to NONANSWER. The recorded politician clue is a possible example, not a definition restricted to politicians. Nine squares require NONANSWER; a plural clue would need NONANSWERS.
Why is NONANSWER useful to learn?
Question: “What time will you arrive?” Reply: “I am looking forward to seeing you.” The reply is polite but gives no arrival time, making it a nonanswer. Identify what information was requested before deciding whether a response actually supplies it.
Common clue patterns
- A reply that dodges the question
- An uninformative response despite spoken words
- An answer in form but not in substance
These are editorially written pattern summaries, not a reproduced puzzle archive.
Other meanings to watch
A nonanswer is not simply the answer “no”: a clear no can answer a yes-or-no question fully. It is also different from silence, although both may leave someone uninformed. The prefix NON- negates the adequacy of the answer, not necessarily the existence of a reply.