What does nude mean?
Nude is most commonly an adjective describing a person or body without clothing. It can also refer to a naked human figure in art, and more figuratively to something that is bare, exposed, stripped of ornament, or presented without concealment. In art criticism and discussion, “the nude” often means the representation of an unclothed human body, whereas “the naked” can carry stronger associations with vulnerability, sexuality, or the everyday condition of having no clothes. The word is used in British and American English and has a formal, established register. The related noun “nudity” refers to the condition or practice of being nude, while “nudism” and “nudist” concern the practice or advocacy of social nudity. Although the vocabulary can sound sensitive, nude is also a precise artistic and descriptive term. Its history reveals how a word for an uncovered body can develop broader figurative meanings involving exposure, openness, and the removal of disguise.
Unclothed or naked; also, lacking a covering, disguise, or embellishment.
"The artist used a nude figure as the focus of the composition."
The adjective is common in both formal and informal English. Figurative uses suggest exposure, lack of concealment, or absence of ornament.
A naked human figure, especially one depicted in art.
"The gallery's collection includes several nudes by modern painters."
This noun is especially associated with artistic representations of the human body.
To make naked or strip someone of clothing.
"The scene nude the figures against a plain background."
This use is uncommon and is more typical of specialized, literary, or technical contexts.
The plural is used for separate naked human figures or artistic representations.
"The exhibition displayed several nudes from the 19th century."
From the Latin nudus, meaning “bare” or “naked,” nude developed from a description of an unclothed body into a term for the unadorned art that depicts it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of nude
The English word comes through French nude, from Latin nudus, meaning “naked” or “bare.” Latin nudus is related to nudare, “to strip bare,” and to the family of English words such as denude and denudation. Over time, nude came to be used both for an unclothed person and for artistic representations of the unclothed human body.
Related word forms
How nude is actually used
The adjective is standard in both formal and informal contexts. The noun is especially associated with artistic representations of the human body and may sound more formal or specialized than the everyday word “naked.” The verb is uncommon and has a literary or technical tone.