The Meaning of NB: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of NB? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the abbreviation NB, including its definition, usage, examples, and more!

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What does the acronym NB stand for?

According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the term NB can either stand for nota bene or nonbinary. Nota bene is a Latin phrase – also spelled N.B. – to draw special attention to what someone is about to say or write. This abbreviation is means to get the readers’ attention and show that whatever is about to be said is worth remembering. The usual medieval equivalents are anagrams from the four letters in the word nota, or the abbreviation DM from dignum memoria meaning worth remembering. For example, in formal writing on an invitation, onr might write, “NB: Formal attire required at the aviation banquet tomorrow.” Someone might write NB in the margins of his book and make a note about something to remember. This prefix code is commonly used in bibliographies or essays. 

The abbreviation NB cna also be used to mean nonbinary, which is a way that a person who does nont identify with the male or female gender might refer to themselves. These people often use the pronouns they and them rather than he, she, him, or her.

According to The Free Dictionary, the acronym NB has many other different meanings than just nonbinary or nota bene. While these other definitions are still valid, they are less common and should be used with caution. If you do decide to use one of these alternate definitions or acronyms, make sure that you provide the reader or listener with the proper context so that they can infer the correct intended meaning. Using a slang term can be confusing on Facebook or Twitter, so make sure you are clear.

  •  No Bother
  •  New Braunfels (New Braunfels, Texas)
  •  Nuclear Boiler
  •  Niobium (soft grey ductile metallic element used in alloys, AKA niobite)
  •  Notified Body (European Commission)
  •  North Brookfield
  •  Notice Board
  •  Navigation Base
  •  News Busters
  •  Noob Busters (gaming clan)
  •  Norges Bank (Norway)
  •  Nippon Bearing Co., Ltd. (Japan)
  •  Mathematica Notebook (file extension)
  •  No Ball
  •  Naughty Boy
  •  North Bend (Washington)
  •  Nonbattle
  •  Not Bad
  •  National Bank
  •  New Brunswick (Canada)
  •  Nightbreed (The Clan)
  •  Next Best
  •  New Bombay
  •  New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
  •  Neon Bible (Arcade Fire album)
  •  Ninja Burger (humor website)
  •  Nassif Building (Falls Church, Virginia)
  •  Occupation Semipostal (Scott Catalogue prefix; philately)
  •  Non-Binding (chemistry)
  •  New Babylonian
  •  Naval Base
  •  Neighborhood Business
  •  New Business (various locations)
  •  Nitrogen Balance
  •  Negative Burn (Quake 3 Clan)
  •  Non Billable
  •  Noord Brabant (Netherlands province)
  •  North-Bound
  •  Narrow Body (aircraft)
  •  Non-Black
  •  New Building (various organizations)
  •  Nieuw Buinen (town in The Netherlands)
  •  Nordlandsbanken
  •  Nordicbots (QuakeNet gaming)
  •  Now Boarding
  •  National Bookstore (Philippines)
  •  Nitrogen Base
  •  No Base
  •  Nonabyte (1e+27 bytes)
  •  Non-Bound Application (insurance)
  •  Newsboys (band)
  •  Nice Boys (Guns N’ Roses song)
  •  North Bergen (New Jersey)
  •  Nude Beaches
  •  Neutral Buoyancy
  •  North Bridge
  •  No Brown (fish)
  •  Newborn
  •  Narrow Band
  •  No Brainer
  •  Neuberger Berman (asset management firm; est. 1939; various locations)
  •  No-Bid
  •  Sterling European Airlines (airline code)
  •  Notebook
  •  Notchback (automobile body style)
  •  Newbreed (TFC Clan)
  •  Noisy Bus
  •  Nominal Bore (internal diameter of a pipe/fitting)
  •  North Bonneville (Washington)
  •  Night Below (fantasy novel)
  •  Nutrient Broth (microbiology)

What are synonyms and antonyms of NB?

There are many different words that a person can use in place of the term nota bene. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same definition as another given word or phrase. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand upon your English language vocabulary and avoid repeating yourself in everyday English language. Take a look at this list of synonyms for nonbinary from Power Thesaurus.

  •  point out
  •  draw somebody’s attention
  •  for the attention of
  •  pay attention
  •  take note of
  •  make notice of
  •  call to notice
  •  call attention
  •  this is to let you know
  •  draw attention
  •  take note
  •  halloo
  •  please consider
  •  it is important to note
  •  direct attention to
  •  focus on
  •  oyez
  •  note to self
  •  please be informed
  •  behold
  •  hark
  •  for your reference
  •  observe
  •  clap eyes on
  •  it should be pointed out
  •  please take note
  •  catnap
  •  important notice for
  •  for your information
  •  nb
  •  turn attention
  •  important to note
  •  yes
  •  turn one’s attention to
  •  attention of
  •  consider this
  •  kindly note
  •  ye
  •  niobium
  •  bring to notice
  •  watch out
  •  please note
  •  it should be noted
  •  take special note of

There are also many different words and phrases that have the opposite meaning of NB. These opposite words are called antonyms. Learning antonyms is another great way to expand your English language vocabulary .These antonyms of NB are also provided by Power Thesaurus.

  •  bypass
  •  override
  •  oblivion
  •  infringe
  •  overpass
  •  overlooking
  •  omission
  •  disobey
  •  shrug off
  •  turn one’s back on
  •  neglect
  •  transgress
  •  condone
  •  turn a blind eye
  •  dismiss
  •  breach
  •  look right through
  •  push aside
  •  contemn
  •  blink at
  •  shun
  •  defy
  •  detachment
  •  pay no heed to
  •  forgive
  •  skip
  •  take no notice of
  •  shut one’s eyes to
  •  leave out
  •  heedlessness
  •  cut
  •  waive
  •  discount
  •  turn a deaf ear to
  •  discard
  •  wink at
  •  brush aside
  •  let pass
  •  oversight
  •  disrespect
  •  unconcern
  •  ignoring
  •  pass by
  •  neglected
  •  contempt
  •  infringement
  •  let go
  •  neglecting
  •  miss
  •  set aside
  •  inadvertence
  •  default
  •  contravene
  •  overlook
  •  insouciance
  •  omit
  •  flout
  •  disregarding
  •  pay no attention to
  •  exclude
  •  ignore
  •  abandon
  •  defiance
  •  cold-shoulder
  •  gloss over
  •  apathy
  •  be oblivious to
  •  excuse
  •  slight
  •  brush off
  •  reject
  •  forget
  •  never mind
  •  spurn
  •  snub
  •  inattention
  •  nonobservance
  •  rebuff
  •  negligence
  •  turn a blind eye to
  •  break
  •  thoughtlessness
  •  disinterest
  •  indifference
  •  look the other way
  •  pass over
  •  fail
  •  repudiate
  •  pooh-pooh
  •  nonchalance
  •  aloofness
  •  carelessness
  •  obliviousness
  •  fail to observe
  •  scorn
  •  disdain
  •  violate
  •  despise
  •  forgetfulness
  •  tune out

Overall, the term NB means either nonbinary or nota bene. Nonbinary refers to a person who does not identify as male or female, and nota bene is a Latin phrase used to get a reader’s attention.

Sources:

  1. NB definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary 
  2. Disregard synonyms – 2 690 Words and Phrases for Disregard | Power Thesaurus 
  3. Nota Bene synonyms – 44 Words and Phrases for Nota Bene | Power Thesaurus